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Earthquake Preparedness

The Huntington Beach Fire Department Emergency Management and Homeland Security Office has prepared the following information on preparing for an earthquake. To be ready for an earthquake, you must prepare yourself, your home, and your family. When earthquakes strike, electrical power may go out, gas lines and water lines may break, buildings may collapse, and residents may require emergency medical assistance. In a major emergency, police, fire, and paramedic resources are often overwhelmed and unable to respond to all calls for assistance. Therefore, it is important you and your family be prepared to be self-sufficient for three to five days.

To ensure that your family is prepared for such an emergency, you should do the following:

Have a family disaster plan
Have a plan for your workplace
Know the plan for your children’s school and participate in the school’s preparedness efforts
Have sufficient food, water, medical prescriptions, and disaster supplies to sustain your family for at least 72 hours
Eliminate hazards in your home
Know how and when to shut off damaged or leaking utilities
Ensure your family is fire safe
Be sure to have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers in your home
Have an evacuation plan and a "Grab-N-Go" bag ready

If you are a Huntington Beach resident, you are encouraged to participate in the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program to better prepare yourself.

For information about Fire Department education programs, please see Safety Education.

Did you know?

Learn "hands on" about the HBPD by participating in the Citizens Academy. Each session is 11 weeks long and is offered twice a year. Learn about Patrol, Traffic, Vice, SWAT, K-9, Aero and more! Apply here.

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