Los Angeles County is preparing its residents for potential disasters that could hit the community.
The Disaster Preparedness Seminar and Expo, hosted by the Los Angeles Community and Senior Services and Office of Emergency Management (OEM), will be held at the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center Sept. 22 at 2 p.m.
The expo will focus on disasters that regularly hit L.A. County like earthquakes, wildfires, home fires and floods. Its goal is to educate residents on how to be more aware and safe during the next disaster or emergency.
According to Ken Kondo, emergency program manager and public information officer for Los Angeles County’s Chief Executive Office for the OEM, this is the 3rd year the preparedness event will be held in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Kondo said attendees will also learn information about cooling centers during extreme heat and shelters during disasters.
Lessons taught at last year’s Disaster Preparedness Seminar and Expo helped Calgrove residents safely evacuate during mudslides following a brush fire in the area, he said.
“The most important part is protecting lives and property,” Kondo said. “We were able to do that in Calgrove… we were able to give the notice to evacuate and people understood what the message was and where to go.”
An addition to this year’s expo will be lessons on Los Angeles Emergency Management Department’s “5 Steps to Neighborhood Preparedness.” These steps include: define your area, recruit leaders, scout your area, build your team and plan your approach.
“We do these seminars and workshops in preparation for if that disaster strikes,” Kondo said.
The Santa Clarita expo is one of 13 events being held during the month of September. Preparedness events will continue in October for Los Angeles County’s PrepareAthon! and The Great California ShakeOut.
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