Your Los Angeles Fire Department spent the morning working to share the important message of Preparedness

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Today is a day of national preparedness titled, “America’s PrepareAthon”.  A grassroots campaign for action to increase community preparedness and resilience (http://community.fema.gov/),

The day started bright and early with the 2015 Great California ShakeOut Breakfast Leadership Summit.  LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas served as a presenter/panelist for the Summit which shared innovative policies, practices and tips for communities to improve their earthquake resiliency (http://www.earthquakecountry.org/2015summit/register.php).

    At the conclusion of the Summit, LAFD held a press conference as part of our “PreparAthon” focusing on an important element of disaster preparedness too often overlooked, Animal Evacuation.

“When you are planning ahead for emergencies, don’t forget your pets”, Brenda Barnette, Los Angeles Animal Services General Manager succinctly summed up the take away message from today’s Animal Evacuation Press Conference. 

When disaster strikes, the stress is overwhelming.  We want to help you avoid even more added stress by sharing tips on how to be prepared for your WHOLE family, pets included.

Mark Salazar, from the Department of Animal Services and Cathy Prudhomme from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shared several helpful tips about what you can do to ensure your pets are safely evacuated in the event of an emergency.

TIPS:

• Make sure your pets are microchipped and have proper identification.  This is the SINGLE most important step you can take to ensure you and your animals will be reunited if you are separated.
• Have a rescue alert sticker (available at local pet supply stores) visible in a window near your front door.  It should list the number and species of animals residing in your home.  If you evacuate with your animals, and time allows, write “Evacuated” across the alert sticker.
•  If you need to evacuate, TAKE YOUR ANIMALS WITH YOU.  It is simply too dangerous to leave companion animals unattended during natural disasters.  The best way to ensure the safety of your pets is to evacuate with them.
• The NFPA provides detailed information on building a disaster kit for horses.  Please refer to www.nfpa.org/safety-information/for-consumers/outdoors/wildland-fires/takeaction/horses for step by step instructions.
• If evacuations are ordered, LA Animal Services will activate evacuation sites for equines and other large animals. 
  • More information:
    • West Valley Center (818) 756-9325 8am – Midnight
    • East Valley Center (818) 756-9323   24hrs a day
    • http://www.laanimalservices.com/general-information/emergency-preparedness/
    • (888) 4LA-PET1

Please take heed and consider what Fire Chief Terrazas shared:  “Few disasters happen with a warning – and your Los Angeles Fire Department and city family will do our best to warn as many people as possible. But most disasters aren’t as convenient. Whether an emergency happens at home, on the road or at work, being prepared can often mean the difference between suffering and surviving.”

We want you AND your family pets to survive!