READY LA

You’ve probably heard reports and read many articles on blog sites and yes in traditional...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 11:41:00 -0700

You’ve probably heard reports and read many articles on blog sites and yes in traditional newspapers that flu season is here and it’s here with a punch. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), flu season doctor visits at outpatient clinics are at the highest recorded rates than they were last flu season.

Flu symptoms typically include sneezing, headaches, body aches, fever, chills and coughing. They can often include vomiting and diarrhea as well.

The CDC recently published some tips we should remember and practice this flu season called “Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs.” Here they are:

1. Clean your hands.

Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

2. Avoid close contact.

Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

3. Stay home when you are sick.

If possible, stay home from work, school, and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

4. Cover your mouth and nose.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

5. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.

Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.

6. Practice other good health habits.

Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

A few headlines for Wednesday, May 29, 2013: 4.6 Santa Barbara earthquake woke people, but no...

Wed, 29 May 2013 11:53:47 -0700

A few headlines for Wednesday, May 29, 2013:

4.6 Santa Barbara earthquake woke people, but no damage reported

LA Times

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries after a magnitude-4.6 earthquake shook the Santa Barbara coast Wednesday morning, officials said.

Wildfire in Santa Barbara County now 80% contained, officials say

LA Times

A wildfire in Santa Barbara County is now 80% contained, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday.

Sandstorm forces CHP to close 14 Freeway in Lancaster area

LA Times

A sandstorm whipped by powerful winds forced officials to close the 14 Freeway near Avenue A in the Lancaster area amid rush hour Tuesday afternoon.

How to help following the Oklahoma Tornado Disaster

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:31:00 -0700

The following organizations are accepting donations to assist in the recovery efforts following the devastating tornado that hit Oklahoma on Monday, May 20, 2013:

RED CROSS

Text Red Cross to 90999 to send a $10 donation.

SALVATION ARMY

Donate online: donate.salvationarmyusa.org/uss/eds/aok

Donate by phone: 800-725-2769

Or send a check to: The Salvation Army Disaster Relief, P.O. Box 12600, Oklahoma City, OK 73157. Designate Oklahoma Tornado Relief on all checks.

FEED THE CHILDREN

Donate online: www.feedthechildren.org/disaster

Donate by phone: 800-627-4556

FOOD BANK OF OKLAHOMA

local food bank – text FOOD to 32333 or phone 405-604-7111

Some headlines for Monday, May 20, 2013 Temperatures in L.A. to heat up to 80s and 90s Monday,...

Mon, 20 May 2013 14:02:00 -0700

Some headlines for Monday, May 20, 2013

Temperatures in L.A. to heat up to 80s and 90s Monday, then drop

LA Times

Following pleasant weekend weather, Los Angeles residents should expect warmer temperatures on Monday that will heat up downtown and valley areas across the region.

Great hall at LAX’s new Bradley terminal to be named for Antonio Villaraigosa

Daily News

The new international terminal championed by Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa won’t be finished by the time he leaves office next month, but it will carry his name in a prominent place.

Councilmember Zine Honors Public Safety Officers

Woodland Hills Patch

At his 11th annual Z Awards for ExZellence Thursday, Councilman Dennis Zine honored seven public safety personnel for outstanding service in Los Angeles’ third council district.

Kamala Harris: Gun Control Meeting With Other DAs At LAPD Aims To ‘Eliminate Violence In California’

Huffington Post

Bringing together district attorneys and law enforcement officials from throughout the state, Attorney General Kamala Harris convened a working group Friday to develop a strategy on how to better enforce gun laws, particularly for those prohibited from owning a firearm.

Disaster preparedness should include pet microchipping, says county

Ramona Sentinel

The county’s Department of Animal Services will offer pet microchipping, rabies vaccinations, dog licenses and discount spay and neuter coupons during a clinic from noon to 2 p.m. today at Woodglen Vista Park in Santee, in advance of wildfire season.

Being sociable could save your life in a disaster

Rawstory.com

According to a researcher, being sociable and connected to your neighbors could save your life in the event of an emergency. Writing for New Scientistmagazine, Sociologist Robert Sampson said that an area’s social infrastructure can make a difference in the survival rate of citizens in a natural disaster or other emergency.

Social Media — Citizens’ Expectations on Response

Emergency Management Magazine

Overall, I think we have, as a profession, crossed the great divide in what emergency managers think about social media. Almost everyone now recognizes that it is not a fad, it may have value, people are using it widely in disasters and perhaps we should be engaged somehow as an agency.

A few headlines for Wednesday, May 15, 2013. Bomb Squad Responds to Culver City Building NBC...

Wed, 15 May 2013 10:17:45 -0700

A few headlines for Wednesday, May 15, 2013.

Bomb Squad Responds to Culver City Building

NBC 4

A building in Culver City was evacuated Wednesday morning in connection with a bomb squad investigation.

Decision on San Onofre pushed back to June at the earliest

LA Times

The head of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Tuesday that the agency will not make a decision on whether to restart the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant until late June at the earliest.

Cops test-drive preemptive policing

Pasadena Star New

ALHAMBRA — The Alhambra Police Department is the first law-enforcement agency in Southern California to fully implement Predictive Policing, a cloud-based software that forecasts areas where crimes are likely to be committed.

Jogging Silver Lake Hipsters Beware, ‘Armed And Dangerous’ Bandits At Large

Laist

Joggers in Silver Lake should heed warnings from the Los Angeles Police Department of armed robberies occurring in the area as of late.

Here are a few headlines for Tuesday, May 14, 2013. After record-busting heat, Southern...

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:59:32 -0700

Here are a few headlines for Tuesday, May 14, 2013.

After record-busting heat, Southern California weather cools down

LA Times

For those who couldn’t beat the record-setting heat Monday, forecasters have good news.

Temperatures were expected to drop about 10 degrees Tuesday and stay below average for the rest of the week, said Stuart Seto, a weather specialist with the National Weather Service.

Feds warn of elevated fire danger for Southern California

Daily News

A new brush fire in the triple-digit Inland Empire heat, along with the smoke and ashes that filled skies from Ventura to Riverside counties earlier this month may have already delivered the message that Southern Californians can expect a serious fire season. Two Cabinet secretaries made the point for themselves on Monday.

Castaic brush fire 80% contained; one lane of 5 Freeway closed

LA Times

One lane of the northbound 5 Freeway in the Castaic area will remain closed until about 3 p.m. Tuesday as fire officials work on a brush fire that burned about 50 acres, authorities said.

San Onofre ruling creates confusion

LA Times

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and an environmental group came to vastly different interpretations Monday of a federal review panel’s decision Monday on the troubled San Onofre nuclear plant.

Fire Safety Checklist for People with Disabilities

FEMA.gov

Approximately 3,500 Americans die and 18,300 are injured in fires each year. People with mobility, sight and hearing disabilities can significantly increase their chances of surviving a fire by practicing proven fire safety precautions.

Some headlines for Tuesday, May 7, 2013 Storm drops more than half an inch of rain across L.A....

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:27:30 -0700

Some headlines for Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Storm drops more than half an inch of rain across L.A. area

LA Times

More than a half-inch of rain fell in communities across Los Angeles County on Monday as a late-season storm moved across the region.

LAFD Shifts Resources Amid Intense, Early Start to Fire Season

The plan was in place before several wildfires broke out in Southern California, but opponents are using the recent rash of fires to support their side

KNBC 4

The Los Angeles City Fire Department began reassigning firefighters to ambulance duty on Sunday, a move that Chief Brian Cummings says is necessary amid million-dollar budget cuts but that is causing concern among city leaders that the department will not be well enough equipped to protect the public.

Wildfire Threat Remains Despite Rain

NBC 4

Even though rain showers and gloomy weather are possible through Tuesday — a welcome relief for firefighters battling blazes across the region — it won’t be enough to quench dry brush and chaparral in drought conditions, forecasters said.

LAPD will investigate officers involved in USC party clash

LA Times

Los Angeles police said they have opened an internal investigation into the police response at an off-campus house party near USC after several people made formal complaints alleging racial bias and use of heavy-handed tactics.

L.A. collects more than 1,100 firearms in weekend gun buyback event

Daily News

The weekend’s gun buyback program resulted in more than 1,100 firearms being turned in, bringing to 11,151 the total number of weapons turned in during the eight years it has been operated under Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

3.5 quake strikes near Ventura

LA Times

A shallow magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning four miles from Saticoy, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 2:05 a.m. PDT at a depth of 13.7 miles.

Evacuation lifted as California fire cools

News24.com

Los Angeles - All evacuation orders were lifted on Sunday in California as fire-fighters battling a massive wildfire near Los Angeles said they had contained 60% of the blaze.

Readying for a Radiological Disaster? Preparing for Dirty Bombs, Nuclear Disaster and Other Radiological Emergencies

Huffington Post

I recently attended a conference on Preparing for Dirty Bombs, Nuclear Disaster and Other Radiological Emergencies. Scary stuff. A subject that is about the last thing we want to consider — yet in the “new normal” it has become inescapable.

Energy officials brace for another summer without San Onofre

LA Times

Energy officials expect to get through another summer without blackouts even if the San Onofre nuclear plant remains shuttered — but damaging fires in the months ahead could undermine that prediction.

A few top headlines for Friday, April 26, 2013 LAFD chief to shift firefighters from trucks to...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:18:49 -0700

A few top headlines for Friday, April 26, 2013

LAFD chief to shift firefighters from trucks to ambulances

LA Times

Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings said Thursday he was pressing ahead with a controversial plan to move dozens of city firefighters from fire engines to ambulances, despite warnings from labor groups that the change would put lives at risk.

LAFD chief presses ahead with firefighter reassignment plan

LA Times

Los Angeles Fire Chief Brian Cummings vowed Thursday to press ahead with a controversial plan to reassign dozens of city firefighters from fire engines to ambulance duty, despite an outcry from groups representing city firefighters and the department’s top commanders.

LAFD ambulance plan proceeds

Daily News

A plan to add 11 ambulances to the Los Angeles Fire Department service by taking firefighters from light and tactical forces will begin on May 5 in what officials described as a major shift in how the department responds to incidents.

California wildfires up 45 percent; officials concerned

Daily News

Summer is two months away and state firefighters have already battled 200 more wildfires than average for this time of year, a factor that has officials concerned about what lies ahead.

Fire rips through Leimert Park church

LA Times

Los Angeles Fire Department arson investigators are using accelerant-detecting dogs in their probe of a Friday morning fire that gutted a Leimert Park church.

Convert traffic surveillance cameras to help LAPD, lawmaker says

KABC 7

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) — Los Angeles is filled with surveillance cameras. Now, after the Boston Marathon bombings, a local lawmaker wants to see if some of these cameras can be converted to help the Los Angeles Police Department solve crimes.

Dangerous wildfire season predicted for California

Yahoo.com New

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Californians can expect a dangerous summer wildfire season due to a dry winter that has left the normally green hills of spring parched and tinder-dry, authorities warned.

National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day

Click on title to play video

May 8^th is National Animal Disaster Preparedness Day. FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino encourages views to have a plan for their pets.

Here are a few headlines for April 24, 2013. New pollution study ranks Los Angeles areas in...

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:21:00 -0700

Here are a few headlines for April 24, 2013.

New pollution study ranks Los Angeles areas in top 10 worst in state

Daily News

A statewide snapshot measuring the cumulative impact of pollution on public health reported that of the top 10 percent most polluted ZIP codes in the state, half are in Southern California. Three Los Angeles County communities are especially burdened: East Los Angeles, Vernon and Baldwin Park, according to CalEnviroScreen 1.0, an interactive tool released Tuesday by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

LAPD hosting Van Nuys gun buyback May 4

Daily News

The city of Los Angeles will host four anonymous gun buybacks, including one in Van Nuys, on May 4.

Study: Yes, L.A. has the worst traffic in the country — again

LA Times

Los Angeles has reclaimed the dubious honor of having the worst traffic in the United States, according to an annual congestion scorecard.

L.A. City Council jumps into San Onofre debate

LA Times

Los Angeles became the latest — and largest — city to weigh in on the fate of the San Onofre nuclear plant Tuesday, with the City Council unanimously passing a resolution calling on federal regulators to hold off on deciding whether the plant can restart.

L.A. City Council votes to move away from coal-fired energy

LA Times

The Los Angeles City Council approved a plan Tuesday to begin moving away from coal-fired energy, despite warnings from a Department of Water and Power watchdog that the shift could cost more than $650 million.

Santa Monica College temporarily evacuated after bomb threat

LA Times

Santa Monica College was evacuated Tuesday because of a bomb threat, police said.

About 12:30 p.m. Santa Monica police were requested to assist in evacuating the main campus quad, said Santa Monica police Sgt. Richard Lewis. The threat was cleared about 1:30 p.m.

Poll: Terrorism as Part of Life

ABC News

Since the early post-9/11 years, Americans have expected terrorism. Majorities have said they think “occasional acts of terrorism in the U.S. will be a part of life in the future,” when the Pew Research Center has asked–74 percent thought so in 2003–and while expectations of terrorism have dipped in recent years, the Boston marathon attacks rejuvenated them.

Jittery public, hoax calls add to pressure on law enforcement

LA Times

Someone calls 911 to make a bomb threat, prompting the evacuation of a local TV station as police race to the scene. It turns out to be a hoax.

‘Zombie apocalypse’ invades U. of Michigan campus as part of emergency preparedness exercise

Washington Post

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — You can learn a lot from a zombie. At least that’s what a University of Michigan professor hopes her 31 graduate students took away from Tuesday’s bizarre, albeit bloody, “zombie apocalypse.” The classroom exercise was designed to get School of Public Health students thinking about what the appropriate response should be during a disaster.

A few top headlines for April 23, 2013. LAPD hosting Van Nuys gun buyback May 4 Daily News The...

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:29:39 -0700

A few top headlines for April 23, 2013.

LAPD hosting Van Nuys gun buyback May 4

Daily News

The city of Los Angeles will host four anonymous gun buybacks, including one in Van Nuys, on May 4.

LAX officials say contractor mistakenly triggered emergency alert

LA Times

An emergency message displayed on monitors telling passengers at Los Angeles International Airport to evacuate was mistakenly triggered by a contract worker, airport officials said.

LAX says ‘emergency’ evacuation display was an accident

LA Times

Los Angeles International Airport officials early Tuesday said a message on multiple flight status displays warning passengers to evacuate because of an emergency was an accident.

LAX officials investigate hacking of flight status boards

LA Times

Operations personnel at Los Angeles International Airport late Monday were reviewing their computer systems to determine how multiple flight status boards were hacked to show an emergency message, authorities told The Times.

Most Americans see terrorist acts as ‘part of life’

LA Times

WASHINGTON — The vast majority of Americans say that occasional acts of terrorism are “part of life,” and many doubt the government can do much more to prevent them, a new poll finds.

About three-quarters of Americans said they agree that “occasional acts of terrorism in the U.S. will be part of life in the future,” according to a new survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press. Only about 1 in 5 disagreed.

LAPD Sees Spike in False Alarms After Boston Bombings; Still Encourages Public to Call With Concerns

NBC 4 News

Since Monday’s deadly twin explosions near the Boston Marathon finish line, law enforcement officials in Los Angeles have been on high alert and flooded with calls from residents reporting suspicious packages.

LAX official: Expect delays because of sequestration furloughs

LA Times

The operator of LAX is “very concerned” about the impact the air traffic controller furloughs will have on flight delays, a Los Angeles World Airports spokeswoman said Monday.

Fire Department Says Fire Season Has Officially Started

CBS Local News

MONROVIA (CBSLA.com) — As firefighters come close to full containment of a brush fire in Monrovia, the fire department says that a potentially hazardous fire season has officially begun.

Crime victims in SB County to be notified of rights by phone

Daily Press

SAN BERNARDINO • A mass notification phone system will now be used to contact every victim in every criminal case in San Bernardino County, according to a District Attorney’s office news release.

FEMA to telephone survey 6,000 individuals on its community preparedness efforts

Government Security News

FEMA is planning to conduct a telephone survey among 6,000 individuals or households to determine the effectiveness of the awareness, recruitment and public information campaigns it runs on behalf of its community preparedness programs.

First-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System to occur tomorrow

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), along with its many federal, state and local partners, is reminding the American public that the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System is scheduled to occur at 11:am tomorrow.

Superstorms cause ‘seismicity’ and could aid tracking hurricanes

Allvoices.com

Seismometers around the nation recorded the rattling of the seafloor as ocean waves collided last October during superstorm Hurricane Sandy along the eastern seaboard of the United States, according to researchers at the University of Utah reporting in Science Daily.

AFTER BOSTON, A FEW FACTS ABOUT TERRORISM

The New Yorker

As Boston honors and buries the victims of last week’s heinous bombings, it is well to remember, after Friday’s media-intermediated lockdown drama, that for the families of the dead and injured this was an intensely personal and private tragedy. Yesterday, a memorial servicewas held for Martin Richard, the eight-year-old boy who was the youngest victim. This morning was the funeral of Krystle Campbell, a twenty-nine-year-old trainee restaurant manager. Tonight, a memorial service will be held for Lu Lingzi, a twenty-three-year-old graduate student from China.

Health officials trace meningitis roots to quash outbreak fears

LA Times

L.A. County officials said they compared a strain of meningitis from a case in April that killed a West Hollywood lawyer to others in the county to determine whether there was an outbreak.

Yes We Are A Much More "Ready City"

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 15:23:00 -0700

April 19, 2013

Los Angeles - Today at a press conference held at the City of Los Angeles’ state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the awarding of $5 million in federal grants to the Los Angeles/Long Beach regions to expand the Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS).

The EEWS provides up to a 50 second warning before strong shaking begins. Officials said that’s enough warning for doctors to stop surgery or for elevators to stop and open at the next floor, as an example.

The City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department along with the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department have participated in a pilot program of the EEWS for the past year.

James Featherstone, General Manager of the City’s Emergency Management Department was among the scheduled speakers at today’s press conference. A transcript of his remarks follows:

* * *

We’ve had many accomplishments under Mayor’s leadership and guidance including participating in the Earthquake Early Warning System. We actually have it in active use in the Emergency Management Department, LAPD Real-Time Analysis and Critical Response Division and in Metro Fire Communications.

The Mayor’s intent since 2007 was to move emergency management and emergency preparedness in this city to a world class state; to make the Emergency Management Department in Los Angeles an industry leader. Through the Mayor’s leadership and guidance and the corporate commitment the Mayor has shown for emergency management during his tenure, we have achieved a lot of accomplishments. We are Vice Chair of the Big Cities Emergency Management Group, which are the 15 most populous and most at risk jurisdictions in the nation. Big Cities represents 30% of the nation’s population. The Mayor insists that we be involved in issues like that.

I read a New Yorker article earlier today and it talked about what happened in Boston and it said “it is the cultural legacy of September 11^th and all the things that have happened in the past decade since.” It’s the kind of orchestration that happened across their city; that same kind of orchestration can happen across this city. Those are the things that make us the ready city that we are today.

People ask about preparedness. Preparedness to us in the common lexicon denotes an end state - that you are prepared. We’d like to say we are a much more ready city. And thanks to the Mayor’s commitment and support of the Emergency Management Department during his time in office, we are a much more ready city. Are we as ready and as prepared as Boston was the other day when the bombing occurred? Yes we are a very ready city.

Carmageddon, the Space Shuttle Move and other planned events we coordinate are sets and reps; they are opportunities for us to practice as we will play before the balloon actually bursts.

So we are a much more ready city than we were September 10^th. We are a much more ready city than we were yesterday. It’s about the corporate commitment from the Office of the Mayor and also the collaboration from the partners we have including City, County, local, private, non-profit and faith based organizations.

We all matter. The whole of government and the whole of community in Los Angeles are much better prepared, much more ready for something today than we were yesterday.

Here are a few top headlines for April 19, 2013. Shorts-and-sunscreen weather on tap for...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 12:57:06 -0700

Here are a few top headlines for April 19, 2013.

Shorts-and-sunscreen weather on tap for Southern California

LA Times

Southern Californians will get a sneak preview of summer this weekend when temperatures climb to 10 degrees warmer than normal for the time of year, forecasters said.

Police respond to spate of Southern California bomb threats

LA Times

Bomb squads from Hollywood to East L.A. to Berkeley have been busy as law enforcement officers responded to multiple bomb threats in the wake of the Boston Marathon attack.

Security will be tightened at upcoming Los Angeles public events

Daily News

With thousands of people expected to fill the streets of Los Angeles for CicLAvia and other events this weekend, law enforcement officials say they are stepping up security because of the Boston bombings, even in the absence of a credible threat in Los Angeles.

Bomb threat at Hooters closes Hollywood Boulevard
LA Times

Hollywood Boulevard was temporarily closed Thursday over a bomb scare at a Hooters restaurant.

Bomb squad responds to pressure-cooker-like device in Silver Lake

LA Times

An abandoned item appearing to be a pressure or rice cooker led a Los Angeles Police Department bomb squad to respond Wednesday to a Ralph’s parking lot in Silver Lake.

LAPD Reminds Public To Use ‘iWatch’ Website In Wake Of Boston Bombings

CBS Local News

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —The Los Angeles Police Department is reminding the public Thursday of a website designed for residents to report suspicious activity or behavior in wake of the Boston Marathon bombings.

Police Blow Up Suspicious Package in Silver Lake Shopping Center [Photos]

Echo Park Patch

A suspicious package found in a shopping mall on Glendale Boulevard in Silver Lake Wednesday afternoon turned out to be no threat, according to officers at the scene.

Before Boston, concerns about readiness in Massachusetts, other states

Miami Herald

WASHINGTON — Even before Monday’s deadly bombing at the Boston Marathon, concern was growing about soft targets and the level of counter-terrorism preparedness in Massachusetts and numerous other states

Majority of Americans Unaware of DHS Program to Report Potential Terrorist Activity, Survey Finds

HS Today

A new survey released only hours before Monday’s horrific terrorist bombings at the Boston Marathon found that more than 56 percent of Americans said they’d never heard anything about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) “If You See Somethi ng, Say Something” campaign.

Here are a few top headlines for April 12, 2013 Cool temperatures, ‘very heavy...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 11:13:19 -0700

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...

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:06:37 -0700

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...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:06:37 -0700

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...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:01:00 -0700

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.

A feeder program for the LAPD

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.

EMD INORMATION RELEASE

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:20:56 -0700

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:

Sepulveda Blvd. will remain open within the freeway closure limits and will be used as a detour route. Detour maps are available at www.metro.net/405
Emergency access will be maintained at all times
For a listing of daily closures and latest updates visit our website at www.metro.net/405 or follow us on twitter: twitter.com/I_405 and Facebook at facebook.com/405project

For more information, contact Metro at mediarelations@metro.net or call Dave Sotero at (213) 922-3007.

# # #

EMD INFORMATION RELEASE

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:45:00 -0700

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...

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 11:24:22 -0700

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.

How Do You Have the Time?

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...

Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:01:00 -0700

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.