While Laguna Beach is at risk for many natural and man-made hazards, an earthquake is the event with the greatest potential for far-reaching loss of life or property, and economic damage. This is true for most of Southern California, since damaging earthquakes affect widespread areas, trigger secondary effects, and can overwhelm the ability of local jurisdictions to respond. Earthquake-triggered geologic effects including ground shaking, surface fault rupture, landslides, tsunamis, liquefaction, and subsidence. Earthquakes can also cause human-made hazards such as urban fires, dam failures, and toxic chemical releases.
The moderate-sized Northridge earthquake caused 54 deaths, more than 1,500 injuries and nearly $30 billion in damage. For days afterward, thousands of homes and businesses were without electricity; tens of thousands had no gas; and nearly 50,000 had little or no water. Approximately 15,000 structure were moderately to severely damaged, which left thousands of people temporarily homeless. Several collapsed bridges and overpasses created commuter havoc on the freeway system. Extensive damage was caused by ground shaking, with shaking-induced liquefaction and dozens of fires after the earthquake causing additional damage.
Prepare Now
- Secure items, such as televisions, and objects that hang on walls. Store heavy, breakable objects on low shelves.
- Practice drop, cover, then hold on with family and coworkers. Drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Crawl only as far as needed to reach cover from falling materials. Hold on to any sturdy furniture until the shaking stops.
- Create a family emergency plan that includes an out-of-state contact. Plan where to meet if you get separated.
- Make an emergency kit or purchase the Laguna Beach specific emergency kit backpack - make sure to including three days worth of water and food per person.
- Consider obtaining an earthquake insurance policy. Standard homeowner's insurance does not cover earthquake damage.
- Download the State's MyShake mobile application to receive early notifications of a 4.5 or greater earthquake in your area. More information here.
Survive During
- Drop, cover, then hold on like you practiced. Drop to your hands and knees. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Hold on to any sturdy furniture until the shaking stops. Crawl only if you can reach better cover without going through an area with more debris.
- If in bed, stay there and cover your head and neck with a pillow.
- If inside, stay there until the shaking stops. Do not run outside.
- If in a vehicle, stop in a clear area that is away from buildings, trees, overpasses, underpasses, or utility wires/poles.
- If you are in a high-rise building, expect fire alarms and sprinklers to go off. Do not use elevators.
- If near slopes, cliffs, or mountains, be alert for falling rocks and landslides.
- If on the beach, and the earthquake knocks you off your feet, seek higher ground immediately.
Be Safe After
- Expect aftershocks to follow the largest shock of an earthquake.
- Check yourself for injury and provide assistance to others if you have training.
- If in a damaged building, go outside and quickly move away from the building.
- Do not enter damaged buildings.
- If you are trapped, cover your mouth. Send a text, bang on a pipe or wall, or use a whistle instead of shouting so that rescuers can locate you.
- If you are in an area that may experience tsunamis, seek higher ground immediately after the shaking stops.
- Save phone calls for emergencies.
- Once safe, monitor local news reports via battery operated radio, TV, social media, and cell phone text alerts for emergency information and instructions.
