Preparedness is the path to readiness

Photo By Dave Palmer | Jim Featherstone, general manager, City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department speaks at Southern California’s National Preparedness Month Readiness, Fair Sept. 20.  

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES

09.19.2011

Story by Dave Palmer 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Los Angeles District

LOS ANGELES - Los Angeles District Corps of Engineer’s Rapid Response Vehicle joined ambulances, mobile command centers, fire engines and their first responders at Exposition Park on the University of Southern California campus for Southern California’s National Preparedness Month Readiness Fair, Sept. 20.

National Preparedness Month, “A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare," encourages everyone to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies that no person or organization can predict. The Federal Emergency Management Agency says through its Ready.gov website, “Get a Kit. Make a Plan. Be Informed.”

“We see preparedness as a path to the goal of readiness,” said Jim Featherstone, general manager, City of Los Angeles’ Emergency Management Department. “Readiness is where we want you to be! So we ask you to be prepared in three ways; at home, school or work and in transit,” he added.

Readiness exercises, like last October’s “Great California Shake Out,” enhance Californian’s understanding of the dangers of earthquakes, but awareness for the other “big one,” a statewide flood, is on the rise. The U.S. Geological Survey has recently released findings that say, "A severe winter storm here could realistically flood thousands of square miles of urban and agricultural land, result in thousands of landslides, disrupt lifelines throughout the state for days or weeks, and cost on the order of $725 billion."

“Events like this one help us educate the public on floods and floodplains,” said Anne Hutton, chief of the district’s Emergency Management Office. “So they can take responsibility for their own safety by obtaining readily available flood information, consider their risk and the need for flood insurance and learning about protective measures they can take before, during and after a flood event,” added Hutton.

This is FEMA's eighth annual National Preparedness Month and this September marked the 10 year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. For the Corps, events like this are an excellent opportunity to interact with fellow first responders, disaster recovery professionals and the public to raise awareness and learn capabilities of key players. Are you ready?

• Date Taken: 09.19.2011
• Date Posted: 09.27.2011 18:08
• Story ID: 77654
• Location: LOS ANGELES, CA, US