July 9, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Santa Monica and ‘Big One’ Preparedness

This article was originally published on February 11, 2019 but is being shared again in light of the two earthquakes that rattled the Southlands over Fourth of July weekend. 

Preparing for an earthquake with magnitude of 8.0 or more.

By Keldine Hull

All it took was 10-20 seconds for the 1994 Northridge earthquake to rattle Southern California in a way no earthquake had done before. Dozens of people lost their lives and thousands more were injured as the state reeled from a catastrophic event that cost billions in damages. As devastating as the Northridge earthquake was, seismologists warn that the hypothetical “Big One”- an earthquake magnitude of 8.0 or more- would be even more disastrous.

Twenty-five years after the Northridge earthquake, for many Californians, the likelihood of the “Big One” is imminent. While it’s impossible to predict exactly when or where a massive earthquake will strike, cities throughout Southern California, including Santa Monica, have made vast improvements towards earthquake preparedness. In 2017, the City Council implemented the Seismic Retrofit Program designed to reinforce and strengthen older buildings. According to Nick Furnari, Emergency Services Administrator at the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), “Nearly 2,000 commercial and multi-family residential buildings in the City were identified as potentially seismically vulnerable in need of possible structural improvement and are required to comply with the Program. You can search to see if your building is on the list on the Seismic Retrofit website.”

Santa Monica, like many other cities, continues to be active in both mitigation and preparedness activities. Furnari explains, “We maintain our state of the art Emergency Operations Center 24/7 that is the central command point for large scale emergencies. We conduct Emergency Operations Center drills with city staff and first responders many times throughout the year. One such exercise is the annual Great ShakeOut where we practice how to conduct the city’s initial response after an earthquake.” Furnari continues, “We often partner with community organizations like the American Red Cross, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, and Santa Monica College during these drills to practice information sharing and coordination before an emergency event.”

In 2018, the OEM relaunched a coalition called Santa Monica Organizations Active in Disasters (SMOAID). Furnari continues, “SMOAID consists of leaders from local businesses, non-profits, and community organizations that work together to prepare the community before a disaster and pledge to serve after the disaster. SMOAID fosters a ‘whole community’ approach to disaster planning, meaning that the best way to organize and strengthen Santa Monica’s resilience and response activities is to work across disciplines and sectors.”

In addition, OEM offers disaster education and training to local community and business organizations. For those who live or work in Santa Monica, OEM manages the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Furnari explains, “The damage caused by natural disasters or from manmade events can affect all aspects of a community, including government services. These events can severely restrict or overwhelm our response resources, communications, transportation, and utilities and leave many individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside support.” Furnari continues, “For the initial period immediately following a disaster, individuals and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources and individual skills until help arrives. CERT basic training is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others during a catastrophe. The class is offered twice per year by the Office of Emergency Management and teaches medical operations, light search and rescue, community specific hazards, and disaster psychology to name a few.”

To better prepare yourself and those around you for an earthquake, OEM recommends a simple three- step process. The first step is to have your kit ready. Furnari explains, “When developing a preparedness kit, residents should stock up on non-perishable, easy to prepare food that they will actually eat. There’s no sense in storing food that no one in the family likes.” The OEM also recommends storing one gallon of water per person and pet for seven days. Water can be stored in your home, at work and in your car. Furnari continues, “In addition to a flashlight, it’s important to have a radio, extra batteries and a first aid kit available and ready to go. It’s also important to have cash in multiple denominations of bills. If the power goes out and the merchant doesn’t have change for a $50 bill, then it may be an expensive bottle of water for you. Be sure to include your personal essentials such as specific medications, eyeglasses, important documents, baby needs and pet supplies for everyone in your household. Additional items to include in your kit are an extra change of clothes, sturdy shoes and a sleeping bag.”

The second step is to have a plan. Furnari explains, “Know your family communications, household, school and workplace plans. Also know your neighborhood hazards. You can visit myhazards.caloes.ca.gov for more information and resources.”

The third step is to be informed. OEM recommends that if you live or work in Santa Monica, to register for alerts at smalerts.net. You’ll receive texts, emails or phone calls that let you know what to do in the event of a natural disaster or other emergencies.

Communication following a natural disaster can be challenging, but there are ways to get in contact with your loved ones and keep them updated. Furnari explains, “We recommend having an out-of-state contact in case of an emergency. Historically, right after a disaster the communication infrastructure is severely inhibited. This means that it will be highly unlikely that anyone will be able to make phone calls to friends or loved ones. However, we’ve found that texting is easier on the cell networks and often work during an emergency. If you can text an out-of-state friend or relative, they can call other family and post your status on social media on your behalf.”

On December 31, 2018, the US Geological Survey (USGS) partnered with AT&T and the Annenberg Foundation to launch ShakeAlertLA- the nation’s first publicly available earthquake early warning mobile application. Available on all iPhone and Android devices, ShakeAlertLA warns users seconds in advance of an impending earthquake. In some cases, a few seconds could be instrumental in moving to a safer position to ride out an earthquake. According to Mayor Garcetti, “We created the ShakeAlertLA app because getting a few seconds heads-up can make a big difference if you need to pull to the side of the road, get out of an elevator, or drop, cover, and hold on.”

To learn more about how you can be better prepared for any natural disaster, visit: https://www.smgov.net/departments/oem/

<>Related Posts

Housing for Health Chief Appointed to Lead Unified Homeless Services Department

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

Veteran Housing Advocate to Oversee Streamlined LA County Services The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday confirmed the...

‘Adoptapalooza’ Pet Adoption Festival Returns to Main Street This Weekend

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The free, family-friendly event aims to connect adoptable animals with new owners Green Dog Dental & Veterinary Center will host...

Virtual Town Hall to Discuss Proposed Resilient Rebuilding Authority

July 9, 2025

July 9, 2025

The agency, to be run by political appointees, would manage permitting, development, zoning, and funding, modeled after post-disaster recoveries Los...

New Agenda Coaching: Changing Lives in LA

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Students Work Toward Applied Success with Executive Function Coaching Services The demands of daily routines and studies sometimes bear weight...

Saint Monica Prep Students Win Award for Anti-Street Racing PSA Video

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The winning public service announcement, titled “Not Worth It,” was highlighted in a post on X by @LADOTofficial  Students from...

Anti-Drunk Driving Resolution Introduced as City Council Honors Late Palisades Teen Killed in Crash

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Levi, who was set to attend the University of Virginia this fall, was killed by a drunk driver on May...

Free and Reduced Price School Meals Available for Eligible Families in Santa Monica-Malibu District

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Parents in Need Encouraged to Apply, SMMUSD Commits to Nutritious, Accessible Meals By Brandyi Phillips, SMMUSD Chief Communications Officer Santa...

Big Blue Bus to Raise Fares for First Time in Nearly a Decade

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

The fare increase aims to offset rising costs for fuel, utilities, and supplies, according to the agency. The Santa Monica...

Shore Hotel: A Local Destination for Summer Fun

July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025

Bring on all things summer. Walking or biking along Santa Monica Pier, you might find yourself taking a pause at...

Santa Monica’s 150th Anniversary to be Celebrated with Vibrant State of the City Event

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs, and picnics to enjoy during the performances Santa Monica will mark its...

Soprano Golda Zahra Returns to BroadStage For a One-Night-Only Musical Celebration

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Hailed as “the rising star of the opera world” by The Hollywood Times, internationally acclaimed soprano Golda Zahra makes her much-anticipated return to BroadStage in...

(Video) Hundreds of Drones Light up the Sky for Palisades to Celebrate July 4th

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The Event Marked One of the First Large Gatherings Among Palisadians Since the January Wildfires. The Event Marked One of...

Transform Your Life: The Free Virtual ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT Debuts July 18-20, 2025

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

The ONENESS GLOBAL SUMMIT, a transformative three-day virtual event, is coming, July 18-20, 2025, offering participants worldwide a free opportunity...

Santa Monica Home Defies Convention: Architect Eric Owen Moss Debuts Shape-Shifting Design

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

Pistachio-Colored Marvel Boasts Curving Walls, Sharp Angles, and Challenging Design A striking residence in Santa Monica is turning heads with...

Caitlyn Jenner’s Friend and Former Foundation CEO Dies in Malibu ATV Crash

July 7, 2025

July 7, 2025

ATV Plummeted 350 Feet After Rear-Ending Vehicle in Malibu Sophia Hutchins, former CEO of the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation and longtime...