City of Long Beach Announces New Mass Evacuation and Shelter In Place Plan

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PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA - As part of the City of Long Beach's ongoing efforts to enhance emergency preparedness for the community, the City announced today the development of its first ever standalone Mass Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Plan. The new plan will expand upon existing emergency preparedness and response plans to safeguard residents' safety, health and wellbeing during and after an emergency or natural disaster. As part of the plan's development, led by the City's Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, community members are encouraged to share their knowledge of local hazards through a public survey, available online and in person now through Nov. 30, 2024.

"We are committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all residents, particularly in the face of emergencies and natural disasters," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "By sharing their individual experiences through the survey, residents can contribute to a safer, more resilient Long Beach."

The survey, available in English, Spanish, Khmer and Tagalog, is designed to gather critical feedback from the community to better understand residents' level of readiness and identify areas for improvement in current evacuation and shelter-in-place procedures. Information provided in the survey will be used to support the development of strategies and actions to reduce the risk of injury and death resulting from a disaster, which will be incorporated in the updated Mass Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Plan. Those with limited access to a computer or smart phone may visit any open Long Beach Public Library location to access paper copies of the survey or take the survey online at an available public computer lab.

"Long Beach is a big city with diverse neighborhoods, districts and communities that all have specific needs," said Reginald Harrison, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications. "Your survey responses will directly influence the development of more effective strategies and resources that cater to the diverse needs of our entire city, including those with disabilities and other access and functional needs."

The goal of an evacuation plan is to move as few people as necessary the shortest distance to safety. Utilizing best practices from existing regional and state plans as a guiding framework, the City's enhanced plan will also incorporate an equity and accessibility lens. The Mass Evacuation and Shelter in-Place Plan serves to identify evacuation routes, shelter locations and communications strategies; facilitate re-entry to homes and businesses; and accelerate the transition to recovery in the aftermath of an emergency.

Up-to-date information will be posted on the Disaster Preparedness website. Drafts of the plan will be made available to the public at a variety of venues including Long Beach Public Library branches, community centers and on the City's Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications webpage later this year.

To learn more about disaster preparedness, residents can visit the Disaster Preparedness website at longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness and on and on Facebook and Instagram at @LBDisasterPrep.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.

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