Introduction to Disaster Preparedness in Encino

The Fire Department guys will be the first to tell you, in the event of a major disaster, "We aren't coming." They have other priorities. After Hurricane Katrina, it was weeks before many were rescued. If there is a major earthquake affecting Encino and the water supply stops and roads are wrecked, families will need at least a week's worth of emergency water and food. The Fire Department recommends even more than that. Imagine if you're stuck in a small apartment.

It's an unfortunate reality but there are no good ways for residents of Encino to find out how to protect themselves. The information is dispersed across multiple websites - this is the best one - but in the event of a disaster we may have no electricity...

Currently, the only way to prepare is to enrol in a CERT-LA class, which is taught by the Fire Department. Usually it is a 7-week class one night a week (usually Tuesdays) each March-April at the Presbyterian Church on Balboa across from the Fire Station so you may have to wait till next year or travel to another suburb for theirs. For details click here then on Encino or any other neighborhood that would work for you.

The best local resource (and really the only one) is SOS Survival Products at 15705 Strathern St # 11, Van Nuys, CA 91406-1307. 800-479-7998. Here is their website. There you can find large barrels for emergency drinking water (55 gallon drums), fire extinguishers, wind-up flashlights, emergency battery-powered radios, tablets for water purification, gloves, goggles and other essentials. I have also seen fire extinguishers at Costco.