September is National Preparedness Month, making it a great time for Los Angeles households to review emergency plans and refresh disaster kits.
Disasters can happen with little warning, and the recent fires underscore how quickly they can affect communities.
The January 2025 fires that struck Los Angeles County burned a total of over 47,900 acres, and damaged more than 16,250 structures, including homes, small businesses, and community buildings.
Although not every disaster is preventable, being proactive about emergency preparedness is one of the best ways to protect your household.
5 Disaster Preparedness Tips Every Los Angeles Household Should Know
Knowing which disasters could affect your area can help you and your family respond safely and recover more quickly. Here’s how to get ahead of an emergency.
1. Prepare a disaster supply kit
Have a disaster preparedness kit ready in the event of a home evacuation. When choosing supplies for your emergency kit, plan for possible outages after a disaster.
A few supplies to include are:
- Water. One gallon per person per day, with enough for several days.
- Nonperishable food. A three-day supply of nutrient-dense shelf-stable foods, plus a can opener if needed.
- First aid and medications. Basic wound-care supplies, prescription medications, and copies of important health and medical documents.
- Communication and light. Flashlights, a hand-crank or battery-powered radio, and extra batteries.
- Other essential supplies. A whistle, wrench or pliers (for utilities shutoff), and plastic sheeting and duct tape to create temporary shelter.
See Habitat for Humanity’s comprehensive disaster supply list for additional items. Customize your disaster preparedness kit for your family members and pets.
Once assembled, set a reminder to check your kit every three months for expired items. Store your emergency kit in a cool, dry place that’s easy to access.
2. Create a family emergency and communication plan
Hold a family meeting to discuss what to do during an emergency and why having a plan matters.
Identify safe places for different types of disasters, evacuation routes, and meeting places in case your household gets separated.
Make sure everyone in your household has access to a family contact sheet with the names, addresses and phone numbers of important contacts, including an out-of-town contact. Often, during disasters, it’s easier to make long-distance calls and send text messages than local calls.
Then, make sure everyone knows how and where to shut off utilities (water, gas, electricity), and how to use a fire extinguisher. Assign roles so each person knows how they’ll help the household respond safely, such as who will pick up children from school or childcare, or who will carry the disaster kit.
Review your emergency plan regularly and practice your evacuation routes often.
3. Protect yourself from wildfires and smoke
The best thing you can do to protect yourself during a wildfire is pay attention to emergency alerts and follow evacuation orders immediately.
Wildfires can move quickly, and wind can carry embers long distances, putting homes far from active flames at risk. According to CAL FIRE, embers account for 60%–90% of home ignitions.
If you’re temporarily sheltering in place while awaiting instructions, stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed when wildfire smoke is present. If you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask to reduce exposure to airborne particles.
Homeowner tip
CAL FIRE recommends creating and maintaining up to 100 feet of defensible space around your home if your property allows. Keep grass, shrubs, and trees maintained, clear leaves and combustible debris from gutters, and address gaps in roofs, walls, and doors where embers can enter. Add these tasks to your seasonal home maintenance checklist.
Get more wildfire preparedness tips on the CAL FIRE website.
4. Drop, cover, and hold during an earthquake
A U.S. Geological Survey says there’s a 60% chance of a magnitude 6.7 earthquake occurring in the Los Angeles region within 30 years.
During an earthquake, remember to “drop, cover, and hold on”:
- Drop. Drop to your hands and knees to avoid getting knocked down.
- Cover. Get under a sturdy table or desk, if possible. If one isn’t nearby, move away from windows and glass, and crawl toward an interior wall. Cover your head and neck with one arm.
- Hold on. Hold on to the table until the shaking stops. If you’re against an interior wall, stay low and protect your head and neck.
The MyShake app can send early-warning alerts seconds before shaking starts and provide official notices following an earthquake.
Homeowner tip
Reducing earthquake hazards in your home can help lower the risk of injury during a shake. Anchor heavy furniture, TVs, and bookcases to prevent them from tipping over and potentially blocking an exit. Store heavy items on the lowest shelf or on the ground and familiarize yourself with your home’s utility shutoffs.
If you live in an older home with a raised foundation, consider asking a qualified professional whether your home would benefit from an earthquake retrofit.
5. Move to higher ground if you’re caught in a flood or mudslide
Flooding can happen quickly during heavy rainfall. Homes near wildfire burn scars face increased flood and debris-flow risk because lost vegetation and burned soil can increase runoff during downpours.
If flooding or mudslides threaten your area, move to higher ground and follow evacuation orders immediately. Don’t travel through low areas like washes and drainage channels, and never walk, swim, or drive through floodwaters or go around barricades.
Floodwater could knock you down or sweep you away, while standing water can conceal electrical hazards. Don’t return to your home until local officials say it’s safe.
If floodwater enters your home, move to a higher level if doing so is safe, but avoid enclosed spaces like attics, where rising water can trap you inside.
Homeowner tip
Before the rainy season, clear leaves and debris from gutters, downspouts, and drainage channels to move runoff away from your home. If you live near a wildfire burn scar, monitor official flood or debris-flow warnings and be ready to evacuate if instructed.
Sign up for local emergency alerts through Alert LA County or find your community’s alert system at Ready LA County.
Small Steps Today Create a Safer Tomorrow
Preparation and practice can help you respond more confidently when an emergency strikes.
For more disaster preparedness tips and resources, visit Habitat Ready. You can also learn about disaster and evacuation plans at your workplace, your children’s school, or other places where you and your family spend time.
Learn more about Habitat LA’s ReBUILD LA disaster relief and recovery efforts and how you can support communities across Greater Los Angeles as they rebuild.