8.9 Magnitude Earthquake Stikes Japan: How to Help, How to Prepare

Hundreds are dead and many parts of northeast Japan are flooded Friday after an earthquake, three aftershocks and a tsunami rocked the region late Thursday our time.

The Southern California coast was waiting out related tsunami advisory Friday morning, with waves expected to hit the San Pedro and Santa Monica shorelines just after 8:30 a.m. 

Experts were predicting currents hazardous to swimmers, boats and buildings that could last several hours. Coastal residents were advised to prepare for possible evacuation.

It's hard to watch the devastation in Asia without wanting to help. Donations to major international aid groups are one way. Save the Children is one group leading the response to the disaster. 

Click on this link to see a list of other international aid groups likely to respond.

Google has also created a person finder that people can use to help find the missing. 

The Japan American Society of Southern California is also a useful resource for tsunami related information.

Unfortunatley, times of tragedy such as these also offer an opportunity for scammers to cash in on the compassion of those hoping to donate to the relief effort.

An article posted Security Week's website notes that scam artists were hard at working setting up phoney donation websites almost immediatley after news of the earthquake struck.

The devastation in Japan is also a sobering reminder that high magnitude earthquake is also long overdue in California.

The , which serves Mount Washington and parts of Highland Park, is a valuable source of disaster preparedness resources.

The group recently updated their emergency preparedness plan, and is co-sponsoring an upcoming Pet Emergency Preparedness Seminar.

The class, which will be held Monday, March 27 at 3:30 p.m. at 5568 Via Marisol in Hermon, focuses on how to ensure pets are taken care of during a major disaster.

Leading the class will be Cindy Sanchez, a professional dog trainer, American Red Cross Instructor and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) level three responder and Thea Martin of the Noah's Wish Animal Disaster Organization.

For those looking to learn how to help assist others in the case of a local emergency, The Hermon Community Church's Fellowship Center at 5800 Monterey Road will be hosting a free Los Angeles Fire Department CERT Classes on Tuesdays, March 15 until April 19 from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Through these classes particpants will recieve an introduction to CERT, earthquake preparedness, fire suppression, light medical and triage and light search and rescue.

Contact Hans Riser at (323) 559-8254 to register.