BEL AIR—On September 11, Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz, representative from District 5, held the Office’s First Annual Emergency Preparedness Events. The events, one held for constituents residing in the Valley, and one for Westside residents, aim to inform and empower those living in these areas and better show them how to prepare themselves in case of emergency. The Valley event was held at the Sherman Oaks Galleria and the Westside event will be held at the Westfield Century City Mall.

Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Koretz.Photo courtesy of Cd5.lacity.org

Also represented at the event was the American Red Cross, the Los Angeles Fire Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams), Animal Services, CPAB (Community Police Advisory Boards), local neighborhood councils and chambers of commerce, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Gas Co., V5 Watch, among a score of other organizations devoted to public safety.

In a statement, Councilmember Koretz said “Everyone knows that earthquakes and fires occur in Southern California and can be deadly, and everyone needs to be prepared so that we might all minimize the risk, limit the damage and hopefully escape calamity entirely. Natural disasters, such as the recent horribly costly Hurricane Irene on the East Coast, may not be avoidable but adequate preparation can certainly help keep people safe from harm. I hope people will join us to learn some great tips and basic steps to enhance public safety and to better protect ourselves and each other. At our events, we’ll be joined by invaluable efforts and crucial groups that do so much good work for the cause of public safety, and I think spending some time on September 11 visiting our events may help local residents enormously, when a future emergency arises.”

Image courtesy of Cd5.lacity.org

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