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By Lookout Staff
September 9 – If you lost power and phone service,
and all the stores and restaurants shut down, how would you survive?
The Santa Monica Red Cross and the City’s Fire Department
want you to be prepared for the “unthinkable” by taking
seven basic steps.
As part of Emergency Preparedness Month, the two agencies have
launched the “I've Got 7” emergency preparedness campaign
to make sure you’re set to make it through one week without
the basic conveniences we take for granted.
"Having seven days worth of supplies in case of disaster is
now being recommended, therefore the 'I've Got 7' theme," said
John Pacheco, executive director of the Santa Monica Red Cross.
"Self-sufficiency could be the key to surviving and riding
out a cataclysm such as a major earthquake," Pacheco said.
A joint effort between the public and private sectors, the campaign
will consist of flyers and preparedness pledges distributed at key
retail stores, schools and major businesses throughout the city
and a www.smgov.net/ivegot7
website. The flyers feature information about preparing
and coping with disasters
The 7 basic steps for disaster preparedness are:
1. Have a week's supply of nonperishable food and water on hand.
2. Keep a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
3. Keep a fully stocked First Aid Kit.
4. Have cash on hand. ATM machines and credit cards are useless
without power.
5. Have sturdy clothing, and bedding -- long pants, long sleeve
shirts, hard-soled shoes, gloves and sleeping bags, pads and plastic
sheeting.
6. Have special needs items such as medicine, eyeglasses, contact
lens solutions, sanitary supplies, baby needs matches, passports
(ID) and pet supplies on hand.
7. Create contact information for someone out of the area who can
relay messages to family and friends if local communications are
down. And, have a family emergency plan.
The Santa Monica Red Cross and Santa Monica Fire Department also
recommends signing up for First Aid, CPR classes and other disaster
preparedness classes or seminars.
Joining forces in the effort this year are RAND Corporation, MTV
Networks, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce, the City of Santa
Monica, The Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District, Santa Monica
Daily Press and Trader Joe's Markets.
"This will give everyone a chance to learn about and accomplish
what must be done to keep their families safe and in relative comfort
when a serious disaster occurs," said Paul Weinberg, the City
of Santa Monica’s Director of Emergency Services.
A special school preparedness campaign will target Santa Monica/Malibu
classrooms, while major businesses and key local employers are preparing
special programs to take the "be prepared" message to
their staffs. The City of Santa Monica is also participating.
Employees in both public and private sector entities, as well as
members of the community who make pledges to be prepared, are eligible
for drawings and prizes.
For complete "I've Got 7" information -- including checklists,
safety hints, a shopping list of necessary supplies, and the "I've
Got 7" pledge card -- log on to www.smgov.net/ivegot7
The American Red Cross of Santa Monica is a publicly supported,
501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that provides health and safety
education, youth services, CPR and first aid training, disaster
awareness and disaster relief efforts. For additional information
or to inquire about other programs or assistance call 310-394-3773
or go online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org
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