City Hall to Be Evacuated, But It's Just a Drill

From the city of Hermosa Beach:

On Thursday, Oct. 16, 2014 at exactly 10:16 a.m., the city of Hermosa Beach will be conducting an emergency preparedness drill involving the response to an earthquake and the evacuation of City Hall offices.

The city recently rewrote emergency procedures for employees to follow in the event of a disaster, which includes:

• The initial employee response to a large earthquake is to follow the recommended “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
• Employees should first check on their own wellbeing and then proceed to check on other employees as well as citizens visiting city departments.
• Each department will then evacuate to a predetermined location and take roll call.
• The city of Hermosa Beach Disaster Service Workers will set up tents and determine what medical assistance is needed and make requests for the Fire Department to assist.

Anyone visiting City Hall at 10:16 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16 will be asked to participate in the drill and evacuate with employees. Signs will be posted to advise citizens who arrive at City Hall to conduct business that an emergency preparedness drill will be taking place.
The drill is a continued effort by the City of Hermosa Beach to put into play emergency procedures to improve the community’s response for when - not if - a major disaster occurs.

All residents, schools, and businesses are encouraged to make a plan and have supplies on hand to be better prepared when a disaster occurs. You can get more information at http://shakeout.org/california/resources/, http://www.redcross.org/, or http://saferhermosabeach.com.

Please contact Lt. Tom Thompson of the Hermosa Beach Police Department if you have any questions at (310) 318-0336 or tthompson@hermosapolice.org.

PHOTO Patch file photo.

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