What we have found is that the best way to minimize the impact of a disaster is to be prepared. With a modest amount of preparation, knowing which of your neighbors will be helpers, who will need help, and setting up your home to safely survive for 3-7 days without public utilities, you can be ready to do your part.
There are basic and simple things we can do to be ready. We know that disaster responders will be overloaded with the tasks of the community as a whole. So it is our responsibility to take care of ourselves and our neighbors.
Each home should have the basics:
Plenty of bottled water.
Food that does not require cooking for refrigeration.
Flashlights, plenty of batteries, radio, sturdy shoes, clothes.
Family plan for a meeting place.
A person out of our area to be a phone contact for the family.
If you are ill or handicapped, your neighbors can help you. Contact them now so they know to check on you. Also, have a week's supply (or more) of medicines, hearing aid batteries, extra glasses and communication equipment.
There are informational pamphlets and fliers at Laguna Beach City Hall to help get you started on the basics.
Stay off the phone and off the road in case of an emergency. If you are confused about disaster preparedness, look in your phone book on page 8, or pick up a yellow trifold at city hall.
DR. LYNN M. STANTON
Laguna Beach
Good riddance to Caltrans sign
I would like to publicly chastise Caltrans for their flagrant disregard and insensitivity for our quality of life in Laguna Beach by installing their monstrous electronic reader sign adjacent to the animal shelter in our beautiful Laguna Canyon Road without permits and in violation of Laguna Beach Municipal Code and the Coastal Act of the California Coastal Commission. What arrogance.
