Staying Safe in LA County During an Earthquake

As Californians, we must always be alert and prepared for an earthquake. They can happen at anytime, without warning, posing a threat to homes, roads, and lives. Earthquakes can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides, and other dangerous situations.

Ways to prepare for an earthquake: 

• Practice DROP, COVER and HOLD ON or LOCK, COVER and HOLD ON drills at home and at work.
• Create an emergency plan at work and at home that includes how to reconnect with loved ones if you are separated. Frequently re-familiarize yourself with evacuation routes.
• Make a disaster supply kit that includes enough food, water and medications for at least 10 days.
• Secure heavy and breakable items in your home, inspect both the inside and outside of your home for items that could potentially cause damage if they were to fall.
• If you are a homeowner, consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy and a retrofit of your building to correct structural issues.

Staying safe after an earthquake:

• Expect aftershocks to follow a large earthquake.
• Check yourself for injury and aid others.
• Don’t enter damaged buildings and if you are in one, leave only when instructed to do so.
• If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, seek higher ground.
• Monitor local news reports via radio, television, social media, and cell phone alerts.

Helpful contacts:

• Downed powerline: call 9-1-1 and leave the area.
• Report a power outage: call your power utility. SCE can be reached at 1-800-611-1911. DWP can be reached at 1-800-DIAL-DWP.
• Need shelter: call 2-1-1.
• Downed tree: call LA County Public Works at 800-676-HELP (4357). In the City of LA, call 3-1-1.
• Great Shakeout: join millions of people across California practicing earthquake safety each October 17th.

For additional tips and resources on how to prepare for an earthquake, visit ready.lacounty.gov. Please visit alert.lacounty.gov to register for emergency alerts.