Long Beach Recognizes September as National Preparedness Month

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PRESS RELEASE

Above: The City of Long Beach is urging residents to make emergency preparedness a priority in September by making a familly emergency plan and other actions to be prepared.

Long Beach, CA - In recognition of National Preparedness Month, the City of Long Beach is encouraging residents to "All Stand Ready" and make emergency preparedness a priority. Throughout September, the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications will share information, resources and practical preparedness tips to help people, households and neighborhoods take meaningful steps to prepare for major emergencies and disasters and build a more resilient community.

"National Preparedness Month is an excellent opportunity for all of us to take a closer look at how ready we really are for a major emergency or disaster," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "Preparing doesn't have to be complicated. Simple actions, such as creating a family emergency plan, assembling a go-bag, or getting to know your neighbors and their unique needs, can make a meaningful difference when disaster strikes. I encourage every Long Beach resident to take time this September to prepare themselves, their families and their neighborhoods."

The City's theme this year,All Stand Ready, encourages residents to take four key actions to strengthen their preparedness:

• Make a family emergency plan so everyone knows what to do and where to go if you must evacuate. Consider the unique needs of your household, including your pets or elderly family members.
• Sign up for Alert Long Beach to receive emergency notifications by text, phone and/or email. These alerts provide important information about pending emergencies that could affect you, the community or City operations.
• Build an emergency supply kit with enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least five days. Building a kit does not have to be expensive-start with items you already have at home, such as canned food, water and first aid supplies, and add to your kit over time.
• Get to know your community and prepare with your neighbors before a disaster, making note of those who may need additional assistance, like the elderly, families with children, and those with disabilities or functional needs.

To recognize National Preparedness Month, the City's Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications will connect with residents and other City departments at community events throughout September, providing preparedness information, resources and materials through the following events and initiatives:

• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) Community Health Fair: Houghton Park, 6301 Myrtle Ave., Saturday, Sept. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• 2026 Family Health Festival: Ability First Education Center, 3770 E. Willow St., Saturday, Sept. 26, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• National Preparedness Month Social Media Campaign: Residents are encouraged to follow @LBDisasterPrep on Facebook and Instagram to learn how to prepare for disasters, build an emergency kit and sign up for emergency notifications.
• Long Beach Airport Full-Scale Triennial Preparedness Exercise: While this event is not open to the public, it will provide an opportunity for participating agencies to test emergency response plans, strengthen and cross-agency coordination and collaboration to improve the City's ability to respond to a major incident.

"The prolonged period of extreme heat we are currently experiencing and the 'Super El Niño' forecasted for this winter, all serve as reminders that emergencies take many forms and can happen at any time," said Reginald Harrison, Director of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department. "Preparedness starts with understanding the hazards we face as a City and taking steps now to protect our families and our neighborhoods."

Preparedness does not end in September. The Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill will take place on Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:15 a.m. Long Beach residents are encouraged to participate in this annual exercise to help prepare for the region's most probable natural disaster, an earthquake.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the City's disaster preparedness topics and resources, visit longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness and follow @LBDisasterPrep on Facebook, Instagram and X.

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.

For more news, pictures, videos and announcements of what's happening in Long Beach, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and YouTube.