SMOAID. Ready to Run Santa Monica?

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1 S a n t a M o n i c a O r g a n i z a t i o n s A c t i v e I n D i s a s t e r SMOAID March 2012 Issue 2, Volume 1 Ready to Run Santa Monica? In This Issue: Ready to Run? 1 Tsunami Response Plan, Unveiled Welcome Wendy Jacobs 2 3 Pet Fair CERT SM Alerts 5 The Los Angeles Marathon is upon us again. For the third consecutive year, the City of Santa Monica will serve as the finish line for the Los Angeles Marathon. The Los Angeles Marathon is one of the most popular marathons in the nation and attracts more than 20,000 participants each year. In 2011 the event also attracted rain, cold and very difficult conditions for runners and public safety personnel across Los Angeles. Though the forecast called for showers, it was one of the worst storms witnessed in Santa Monica s history. Many participants needed immediate care from paramedics, volunteers, and hospital staff due to the cold and wet conditions. City staff was prepared to meet the demands of this emergency. The Big Blue Bus provided busses for transporting runners out of the rain and into climate controlled environments and with the help of community partners, the City was able to coordinate treatment centers at local hotels to assist the tired, cold, and wet participants. The communication and coordination that occurred is exemplary of the SMOAID model of emergency preparedness. By identifying and working closely with our local partners prior to an emergency, we are all better prepared to respond when events occur. A group of L.A. Leggers prepare for the 26.2 Stadium to the Sea race. A Dedication to Preparedness 6 This year, the million dollar question is, what can we anticipate? What is our contingency plan? In preparation for this year s event, which is scheduled for Sunday, March 18, 2012, the Office of Emergency Management is working with public safety personnel and various city departments to activate the Emergency Operations Center. Key departmental staff will be stationed in the Emergency Operations Center to organize and allocate resources for staff in the field. For more information on the 2012 Los Angeles Marathon check out:

2 Tsunami Response Plan, Unveiled The common notion people have about tsunami is that it is a destructive sea wave, capable of causing significant damage. As seen in several Hollywood movies over the years tsunami falls in the same category with aliens, meteors, and other menacing threats. Unfortunately, many do not know the intricate details of how and when tsunamis occur or what areas may be affected. Tsunamis featured in movies such as 2012, can cause massive problems for the City of Santa Monica. Addressing this lack of information was the mission of Ken Semko, Emergency Manager for the City of Santa Monica. In June 2011, OEM Staff conducted substantial research to identify the real tsunami risk in Santa Monica. This research included reaching out to cities along the west coast that have seen significant tsunami damage throughout the years. Crescent City, a small town located in Northern California has experienced over 30 tsunamis in the last 100 years. OEM staff also visited the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) office in Ventura, California, where they met with experts on tsunami risks and warning systems in place. An array of experts from The National Weather Service, California Geological Survey, University of Southern California, Cal EMA, and NOAA provided the information that went into Santa Monica s Response Plan, which was presented to City Council December The Plans detail was reviewed, questioned and commented on by members of the public and Council the night of the meeting. Following the City Council s endorsement of the Tsunami Response Plan OEM began a massive community outreach effort throughout the months of January and February. Efforts included an OEM information table at Main Street Farmers Market, tsunami awareness talks at Santa Monica s Public Libraries and presentations to local hotels and businesses in the Tsunami Inundation Zone. Approximately 50 tsunami evacuation route and inundation zone signs have been posted in Santa Monica to educate businesses, residents, and visitors about the tsunami risk and evacuation procedures. While a tsunami is an unpredictable event, like so many other disasters, the only way to prepare is to educate yourself by staying informed, developing a family plan and stocking up emergency preparedness supplies.

3 Red Cross of Santa Monica Announces New CEO Wendy S. Jacobs has been named Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Red Cross of Santa Monica. The announcement was made by Dr. Rob Amonic, Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Santa Monica chapter. Her appointment is effectively immediately. Jacobs, 33, brings to the Santa Monica chapter an extensive background in fundraising and public relations for both non profits and private corporations. Jacobs comes to the Santa Monica Red Cross from Boston, MA where she most recently held the title of Deputy Executive Director and Chief Development Officer of Heading Home, a homeless services agency. There, she spearheaded the organization's long term strategic planning process and managed the non profit's Board of Directors to ensure fulfillment of funding development goals. Prior to joining Heading Home, she was Vice President of Business Development for the real estate firm of CB Richard Ellis/New England. Previously, she was Director of Fundraising for the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Senior Public Relations Manager for Raytheon Company in Massachusetts. Jacobs graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University. At the Santa Monica Red Cross, Jacobs will oversee the chapters activities and will be heavily involved in fundraising in addition to overseeing day-to-day operations which include disaster preparedness and relief functions, staff and volunteer responsibilities and working with the chapter's Board of Directors on Red Cross initiatives and goals. Her first major project is the chapter's major annual fundraiser, the Red Tie Affair on April 21. Jacobs says, "I'm honored to be a part of such an esteemed organization and hope to make a lasting and meaningful impact on the community. I'm so grateful for the warm welcome that both the American Red Cross and the Santa Monica community have extended to me." She succeeds John Pacheco who retired January 2 after 35 years of active service for the American Red Cross in the Los Angeles area. Jacobs is based at the Santa Monica Red Cross chapter at th Street in Santa Monica. Her phone number is and her address is jacobsw@arcla.org.

4 Pet Fair 2012 February 25 was not just another beautiful Saturday afternoon in Santa Monica. It marked the 3 rd annual Pet Emergency Preparedness Fair. This event was hosted by the Office of Emergency Management along with the Red Cross of Santa Monica and spcala. Hundreds were in attendance at Clover Park relishing the multiple emergency preparedness supply vendors and local pet supply providers. Discount animal wellness services were provided by spcala including low cost vaccinations; checkups, and most importantly, free micro chipping services. Micro chipping is one of the best ways to prepare pets for emergencies. In the event of a disaster, traditional first responders and animal care agencies will be inundated with calls for service and likely will not have resources needed to care for and identify all lost animals. By micro chipping pets, it is more likely that they will be reunited with their owners if separated during and emergency Additionally, a new product called Bark Code was on hand. Bark Code has developed a QR reader tag that fits on pets collars and can be read by all smart phones. In the event that an animal is found, a person can take a picture with their smart phone of the QR code on the tag and the pet owner s information will be displayed. This avoids the need to bring lost animals to animal service agencies. The event featured both animal and human entertainment. Activities consisted of dog training demonstrations, pet disaster preparedness tips, the Santa Monica Fire Departments Pet Rescue Oxygen Mask program, Red Cross pet first aid and Hip-Hop Harry (who was a definite favorite of the crowd). While some Santa Monica residents did not come to the event with their pets, a lucky few left with a new furry friend as spcala and Much Love Animal Rescue brought animals for adoption. The event was another large success for the Office of Emergency Management and for all the residents and animals that call Santa Monica home.

5 CERT 2012 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) In January, members of the Santa Monica Office of Emergency Management, Police Department, and Fire Departments completed the first CERT train the trainer class in Santa Monica. This was an important step in bring a formal CERT program to Santa Monica. For those interested in becoming Santa Monica CERT members, please contact OEM at (310) or oem@smgov.net. The first official CERT class will be held in the summer of For those of you, who do not want to wait until summer to begin emergency preparedness training, please sign up for the Santa Monica DART (Disaster Assistance Response Trainings) that are available to anyone who lives, works, or plays in Santa Monica. This is a fun, one day class that teaches basic emergency preparedness skills to individuals or organizations. For more information about DART, please visit For more information about DART, SM Alerts, Emergency Preparedness and OEM, visit: Mark Your Calendars for DART Saturday, April 21 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday, June 9 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. SM Alerts As detailed in our previous newsletter, the City of Santa Monica has recently implemented SM Alerts, the City s emergency alert and notification system. To date, more than 3000 people have registered to receive alerts about important happenings in the community. For more information about SM Alerts, please contact the Office of Emergency Management at (310)

6 A City s Dedication to Emergency Preparedness To welcome in the New Year and to demonstrate Santa Monica s commitment to emergency preparedness, City Manager Rod Gould delivered an unexpected surprise to City employees. Working with OEM staff, emergency backpacks were provided to city employees in order to help them take the first steps in being prepared for emergencies. We all recognize the need to be able to respond to the community of Santa Monica in the event of an emergency. The better prepared employees are at home, the faster and more efficient they will be in response and recovery to emergencies that may arise. With essentials like an emergency supply of water, food, first aid and survival items, the backpacks are intended to be a first step in preparing employees for emergencies. This is a responsible and meaningful way to empower individuals as well as organizations to react and respond to crises. OEM is helping to change the concept of preparedness which in the past has been relegated to the back burner of many organizations and individuals thoughts. OEM wants people to consider being prepared for emergencies as an ongoing process. We encourage people to begin giving emergency preparedness items as gifts and prizes when possible. Gifts such as hand crank flashlights, crank radios, and other items can be fun as well as life saving. What s Going On? We want to hear from you about emergency preparedness efforts happening in your home, neighborhood and workplace. Sean Freeberg with your exciting news at sean.freeberg@smgov.net Remember, Sean is a certified Red Cross CPR/First Aid instructor, and would be happy to provide training to the Santa Monica community. your inquiries to sean.freeberg@smgov.net