Here are a few top headlines for April 12, 2013
Cool temperatures, ‘very heavy drizzle’ on tap this weekend
LA Times
Southern California is expected to experience cool, cloudy conditions and possibly some light rain this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Security guard killed at Panorama City strip mall, LAPD says
LA Times
A security guard was shot and killed near a liquor store in a Panorama City strip mall, Los Angeles police said Thursday night.
Case of meningitis-related bacterial illness reported in L.A. County
LA Times
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been alerted about a Los Angeles County case of meningococcal infection, a bacteria-caused illness that can lead to potentially deadly meningitis, according to a spokesperson.
Sheriff considers following LAPD’s no-report policy on ‘swatting
LA Times
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will “seriously consider” following the Los Angeles Police Department’s new policies on confirming “swatting” incidents against celebrities, a department officials said.
Mountain lion captured in Glendale-area neighborhood
Daily News
GLENDALE, Calif. - A large mountain lion found wandering through backyards in the Glendale area has been tranquilized and captured.
LAFD Airlifts Hiker In Distress Near Castle Peak
KCBS
WEST HILLS (CBSLA.com) —A hiker was airlifted Thursday in the Woodland Hills area after reportedly suffering from a medical issue.
LA mayor’s office evacuated over powder in letter
Sacramento Bee
LOS ANGELES — Officials say part of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s office was evacuated after a letter was received with white powder inside.
Donated LAFD Equipment on Display at Woodland Hills Fire Station
LAFD Blog
LOS ANGELES - On Thursday afternoon, April 11, 2013, Fire Chief Brian L. Cummings visited Fire Station 84 in Woodland Hills where newly donated emergency services equipment was displayed.
Napolitano: DHS Targeting Human Traffickers
Officer.com
The Obama administration unveiled in Washington Tuesday a plan aimed at doing a better job of stopping human trafficking.
Here are a few top headlines for April 11, 2013
The LAFD Is Looking For A Few Good Women
Huffington Post Live
The Los Angeles Fire Department has been notorious for being a boys’ club. Currently only three percent of the LAFD are women but they are looking to change that. We discuss what it takes to be a woman firefighter.
LAFD Urging Residents In High Fire Danger Areas To Clear Flammable Brush
KCBS
LA CAÑADA (CBSLA.com) — The Fillmore fire has made it clear that mother nature has no intention of postponing fire season this year, and residents have been urged to prepare.
‘POPP’ Offers Youths Path to LADP Careers
KTLA
WESTCHESTER, Calif. (KTLA) — Students across L.A. are getting a chance of a lifetime as they participate in a new leadership program led by the LAPD. It’s called the Police Orientation and Preparation Program, or POPP.
‘Swatting’ Hoax Tests the Police and Stars Alike
New York Times
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — The 911 call came in late Monday afternoon. Two men with guns, one wearing a bulletproof vest, were storming the home of the actor Russell Brand, tucked away on a crest in the Hollywood Hills.
Homeland Security would hire 1,600 agents
UPI.com
WASHINGTON, April 10 (UPI) — The U.S. Homeland Security Department’s $39 billion budget maintains a commitment to functions such as border and cybersecurity, the White House said.
Push to restart San Onofre gets a boost
LA Times
Federal regulators issued a preliminary finding Wednesday that a license amendment requested by Southern California Edison in support of the company’s plan to fire up the San Onofre nuclear plant would not create significant new safety hazards, potentially paving the way for an expedited restart of the plant.
Safety ‘No. 1 issue,’ superintendent says of Twitter threat
LA Times
Aside from the reporters outside, it was “business as usual” at a Burbank high school Wednesday, a day after a 16-year-old student allegedly threatened via Twitter to shoot another, the district’s superintendent said.
Flood-Prone Cities Take Disaster Planning into Their Own Hands
Emergency Management Magazine
When Hoboken, N.J., resident Larry Henriques saw the paint can float by, he thought it odd. When he saw a car just down the street start floating away, he found it alarming.
Illegally Configured Home Cooking System Sparks Boyle Heights Blaze, Displacing 12
LAFD Blog
BOYLE HEIGHTS - A fast-moving non-injury fire in a two story residential fourplex caused more than a quarter-million dollars in damage, leaving 12 persons homeless early Wednesday morning.
Here are a few top headlines for April 10, 2013
Residents say mini-tornado hit Riverside County mobile home park
LA Times
Residents of a Riverside County mobile home park said a mini-tornado tore through their neighborhood Tuesday, flinging large metal awnings through the air, which then fell to the ground.
Los Angeles to consider crackdown on celebrity ‘swatting’
LA Times
The Los Angeles City Council is expected to consider a motion Tuesday to crack down on “swatting” incidents, in which police are dispatched to celebrities’ homes on false crime reports.
Los Angeles City Council committees endorse LAX improvement plans
Daily News
Two committees of the Los Angeles City Council moved jointly Tuesday to recommend the city proceed with plans to improve the region’s largest airport.
Antonio Villaraigosa’s final State of the City speech: The mayor issues schools challenge
KPCC.org
In his final State of the City address Tuesday, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lashed out at the two candidates seeking to succeed him for their lack of “serious discussion” about education reform.
Cases grow to 28, deaths to 9 in China’s H7N9 outbreak
Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Apr 9, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – China’s number of confirmed human infections with H7N9 influenza grew to 28 today, as two new cases each from Zhejiang province and Shanghai were added, according to media reports citing official sources.
Here are a few top headlines for April 8, 2013
High-wind advisory issued for Southern California
LA Times
A wind-whipped Monday is expected in Southern California as a cold front blasts a stream of cool air through the coast and into the valleys, the National Weather Service said.
Neighborhood meetings in the San Fernando Valley
Daily News
THIS WEEK Community Meetings Calendar …
LAPD tries to crack down on celebrity ‘swatting’
LA Times
The Los Angeles Police Department says it’s trying to get tough on crank callers who “swat” the homes of celebrities. The most recent example came Thursday when singer Rihanna’s home was swatted.
Metrolink train hits dump truck, 13 injured
LA Times
A Metrolink commuter train collided with a dump truck near Pacoima, injuring more than a dozen people Saturday, authorities said.
Crime in Los Angeles drops in first quarter of 2013
KPCC
Crime in Los Angeles dropped in the first three months of this year, with violent crimes dropping by half over the past eight years, top city officials said Friday.
Weather, disaster agencies turn to Twitter, Facebook, YouTube
Star Tribune
With the season for quick-hitting storms about to barge into Minnesota, social media are about to become a key news tool.
LA Times
The subject of the morning class was criminal investigation, and there was no hesitation on the part of the 17-year-old when he was asked to stand and explain aggravated assault.
Metro Announces Northbound I-405 Freeway Closure between Getty Center Drive and U.S. 101 Planned Saturday Night, March 23
The I-405 Sepulveda Pass Improvements Project contractor is scheduled to implement a full directional northbound I-405 freeway closure for approximately four miles between the Getty Center Dr. ramps to the 101 freeway on the night of Saturday, March 23, 2013.
The contractor will continue to install falsework structures for the reconstruction of the Mulholland Bridge. Similar work was previously performed on the southbound I-405 on March 8.
Ramps within the freeway closures limits may begin to close as early as 7 p.m. and freeway lanes will begin to close as early as 11 p.m., leading up to the full northbound directional freeway closure beginning at 1 a.m. and ending at 6 a.m., weather permitting.
What: Falsework construction to support the reconstruction of the Mulholland Bridge
When: Full directional northbound freeway closure is anticipated to occur on Saturday, March 23, 2013, weather permitting. Ramps within the freeway closures limits may begin to close as early as 7:00 pm and freeway lanes will begin to close as early as 11:00 pm, leading up to the full directional freeway closure beginning at 1 a.m.
Where: Between the Getty Center Dr. ramps and the 101 freeway
What to expect:
For more information, contact Metro at mediarelations@metro.net or call Dave Sotero at (213) 922-3007.
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Los Angeles Emergency Management Department To Teach Neighboods How to Prepare for Disaster
March 13, 2013
Los Angeles – We never think a disaster will strike our neighborhood – or at least we hope it won’t! However, it is not a question of if one will happen, but when. In the wake of a major disaster, emergency response services may be inundated with requests for support. Community members must be prepared to help one another until support becomes available. This means practicing “neighbor helping neighbor” and a thought out Neighborhood Disaster Plan. We have seen the benefit of preparedness time and time again – from the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the 2011 Japan earthquake/tsunami/nuclear disaster, and most recently, the 2012 Superstorm Sandy.
As a leader in disaster preparedness, the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department is hosting workshops that are designed to teach community members what they can do to help make their neighborhood better able to meet disasters head on and bounce back afterwards.
Workshop attendees will receive a copy of our 5-step “how-to” guide for building a Neighborhood Disaster Plan, get access to a training DVD and much more. The workshop will be conducted on March 20, 2013 from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.
REGISTRATION ambassador
Additional information and workshop registration can be found here —
www.constantassociates.com/disaster
TIME: 6:30PM-8:30PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM for check-in.
Location information will be provided upon registration.
Community members should register today – seats will fill quickly!
The event is free of charge. Refreshments and raffle with door prizes are provided.
Quantities are limited to 50 per workshop for the workshop material.
About City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department
With approximately 4 million residents and 400,000 business firms, the City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department (EMD) has the enormous task of planning and preparing all City departments, residents and businesses for man-made and natural emergencies, as well as coordinating subsequent response, recovery and mitigation efforts. More information at http://emergency.lacity.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Chris Ipsen, Los Angeles City Emergency Management Department
E-mail: chris.ipsen@lacity.org
Phone: (213) 359-2234
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Here are a few top headlines for March 12, 2013
California earthquake: Aftershocks continue for second day
LA Times
A magnitude-4.7 earthquake in Riverside County continued to produce aftershocks for a second day.
There were more than a dozen small aftershocks Tuesday morning, after more than 150 on Monday. All were small and probably not felt by residents in the Anza area.
L.A. population will be much older, more settled, study says
LA Times
The future of Los Angeles will be a grayer one, as aging boomers, slowing immigration and shrinking birthrates radically change the face of the county, a new study from USC predicts.
data over the last 13 years.
L.A. to neighborhood councils: Cancel elections or help pay for them
Daily News
With the failure of Measure A in last week’s election, the city’s 95 neighborhood councils are being asked to weigh in on a proposal to either cancel their elections next year or pay up to 20 percent of their annual $37,500 budget to cover the costs.
LA: Prepare for 2 weeks if disaster hits
UPI.com
LOS ANGELES, March 11 (UPI) — Los Angeles fire officials, on the anniversary of Japan’s devastating earthquake, advised people to be ready to be on their own for two weeks if disaster hits.
Social Media 4 Emergency Management
There is one question that is asked at nearly EVERY social media presentation and it is always “the resource question.”
Here are a few top headlines for March 11, 2013
5.2 earthquake shakes Southern California
LA Times
A magnitude 5.2-earthquake struck Monday morning in the Riverside County desert, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. It was the second earthquake in the Anza area Monday.
4.7-magnitude quake in Inland Empire shakes L.A., San Fernando Valley
Daily News
A series of earthquakes centered in Riverside County this morning could be felt in Los Angeles, including the San Fernando Valley.
Daylight saving time is time to check smoke alarms, LAFD says
LA Times
With daylight saving time here, local fire officials are urging people to spring at a home-safety opportunity.
Multi Agency Emergency Drill in Alameda Corridor was a Success
LAFD Blog
On March 10, 2013 a full-scale exercise took place, providing a vivid depiction of a unified command working together on a simulated incident inside the Alameda Corridor.
LAPD officers test new vehicle technology
KABC-TV
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — LAPD officers are putting new vehicle technology to the test out in the field. The department is hoping the new equipment will give officers extra elbow room in their patrol cars.
LA fire deputy in Fukushima on second anniversary of Japan earthquake and tsunami
KPCC
Monday marks the second anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that killed nearly 16,000 people in Japan.
2 LAFD Firefighters Injured in Mid-City House Blaze
LAFD Blog
PICO (MID CITY) - Two firefighters suffered minor injuries today in a fire that heavily damaged a two-story house in the Mid-City section of Los Angeles. The fire broke out just after 2:30 a.m. and structurally compromised the residence at 1846 S. Orange Grove Avenue.
Top 5: FEMA turns to social media
Examiner.net
Independence, MO —Social media is everywhere these days, and emergency preparedness is no exception.
NYSE prepares disaster backup plan: WSJ
Chicago Tribune
(Reuters) - The New York Stock Exchange is readying plans to be able to operate without human traders in case another disaster, such as Superstorm Sandy, forces the shutdown of its historic trading floor in downtown Manhattan, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 2:00 a.m. The Uniform Time Act is the law that establishes standard times zones in the United States and authorizes Daylight Savings Time. That is why we “spring forward” this time of year so don’t forget to set your clocks ahead one hour on March 10th or before you go to bed on March 9th.
The debate that we no longer need daylight savings time still rages on. Each year when we spring forward, the common complaints are always the same: it’s not necessary; it throws off the internal body clock; it’s a hassle to change every watch and clock you own; and it produces a lot of sleepy drivers for those first few weeks until people catch up on the hour they lost.
In the world of emergency management, Daylight Savings Times offers another opportunity to remind people to make readiness a routine part of their lives. So use this time of year as a reminder to:
Spring forward but don’t forget to spring into action. It’s time to get Ready LA. For more readiness tips, visit readyla.org.
Note: Arizona, Hawaii and U.S. territories Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not observe Daylight Savings Time.
Here are a few top headlines for March 4, 2013
The City Maven
Welcome to the Maven’s Morning Coffee — a listing of the important headlines, news conferences, public meetings and announcements you need to know to fuel up and tackle your day
405 Freeway fully open after Sepulveda Pass paving finishes early
LA Times
All lanes of the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass are open to traffic after crews finished repaving work 29 hours ahead of schedule, a Metropolitan Transportation Authority official said Sunday.
Los Angeles County Fire rescues two stranded hikers in Topanga
Malibu Times
Two hikers stranded in Topanga State Park were hoisted to safety by a Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) helicopter Saturday night, said David Katz of Malibu’s Search and Rescue (SAR) Team.
LAPD patrol officers use CPR to save elderly woman in Woodland Hills restaurant
Daily News
Two patrol officers used CPR to help save the life of a 75-year-old woman, who was unconscious and on the ground at a Woodland Hills pizza restaurant, police said Sunday.
Bomb Threat Prompts Hospital Evacuation
NBC Los Angeles
At least three floors of a San Fernando Valley hospital were evacuated on Sunday when police received a report of a duffel bag left by a man who told hospital employees it contained a bomb, police said.
LAPD Chief Charlie Beck’s side
LA Times
In the three-plus years since Charlie Beck put on the chief’s badge at the LAPD, his goal has been to consolidate a modern, multiethnic, publicly responsible 10,000-officer department, as envisioned in the rattling reforms of 15 and 20 years ago.
Community meetings in the San Fernando Valley
Daily News
San Fernando Valley Chapter of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association: California Highway Patrol Officer Leland Tang discusses changes to the Department of Motor Vehicles code at a luncheon meeting, noon Wednesday. Reservations required by today. Lulu’s Restaurant, 16900 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys. Bob Stiles, 818-887-7698.
Delta Kappa Gamma Society Area IX Spring Festival: The women educators group holds a breakfast meeting, 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Artist Rosa Odow discusses her life experiences. Cost $35. Reservations required by today. Knollwood Country Club, 12024 Balboa Blvd., Granada Hills. Eileen, 818-994-0658… more
New airports police division chief Patrick Gannon leads by example
Daily News
Just before Christmas, the new chief of the Los Angeles World Airports Police Division asked some of his officers to participate in a raffle.
Sun Valley High School fire causes $75,000 in damage
Daily News
SUN VALLEY - A noninjury weekend fire at Sun Valley High School caused $750,000 in damage, the Los Angeles Fire Department reported Monday.
LAFD Hosts the 2013 PAD Program Award Ceremony
LAFD Blog
Every uniformed member of the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) is trained in the use of a defibrillator, a devise that externally shocks the human heart out of a fatal rhythm, allowing a normal, healthy rhythm to resume.
FEMA: Prepare now for severe weather
The Van Wert Independent
CHICAGO — Sunday marks the start of National Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are joining together to help save lives from severe weather by delivering the following important message to the public: be a Force of Nature by knowing your risk and taking proactive emergency preparedness measures as well as inspiring others to do the same.
Preparation the key to survival in disaster situations
News and Tribune
HENRYVILLE — A tornado like the one that destroyed homes and businesses in Henryville, Marysville and other parts of Southern Indiana probably won’t happen here again in our lifetime. The odds say so.
DHS Daily Open Source Infrastructure Report 04 March 2013
DHS.gov
Daily news digest from U.S. Department of Homeland Security.