Preparing For Anything: Easy Steps To Be Disaster Ready in LB

By Brittany Hart Scholten Photo by Justin Rudd

Jake Heflin, Battalion Chief

When someone picks up the phone and dials 911, they are placing their absolute trust in the people who will show up at their door. “This could be the worst or most vulnerable day of their life. They open the door to firefighters, who are complete strangers, and invite them into their most personal space to take care of them and their family.” Jake Heflin, Battalion Chief for the Long Beach Fire Department, said. “That trust is profound, and we don’t take it lightly."

For Heflin, who has spent more than 25 years serving the city as a firefighter, paramedic, and community preparedness leader, that trust is the reason every drill, every training session, and every neighborhood outreach matters. In Long Beach, being ready isn’t just about responding to emergencies. It’s about empowering neighbors to support each other before help arrives. Heflin’s journey in emergency preparedness began long before he rose to Battalion Chief. A member of the Cherokee and Osage tribes from Oklahoma, he witnessed firsthand how unprepared some communities were for emergencies.

“I’ll never forget a tribal council member telling me they had to throw someone in the back of a pickup truck to get them to a hospital,” Heflin recalled. “That just didn’t seem right.”

Motivated to improve preparedness, he joined CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) program. He brought his CERT training to tribal communities and later to Long Beach. His work laid the foundation for programs that now teach residents to respond effectively to disasters, even before professional help arrives.

History Repeats Itself

In Long Beach, preparedness is both practical and personal. Heflin emphasizes that historical events like earthquakes, floods, and fires teach valuable lessons about vulnerability.

“We know that history repeats itself,” he said. “If we know that in 1933 we had a devastating earthquake, we should be prepared for the next major one.”

By teaching residents the five steps of disaster preparedness: Get alerts; Make a plan; Pack a go bag; Build a stay box; and Help family, friends, and neighbors get ready, Heflin and his team are creating a culture where readiness is part of daily life.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

This approach isn’t just about equipment or drills; it’s about people watching out for each other. Heflin shared that during power outages downtown, neighbors checked in on neighbors, guided by CERT training, while firefighters stayed available to handle emergencies.

“During a catastrophic event, resources are stretched,” he said. “It’s the neighbors helping neighbors, the community coming together, that makes a significant difference.”

Heflin recounts simple exercises he shares at neighborhood meetings: Where is your family’s safe meeting place in case of a fire? Do children know what the plan is? “It’s a simple conversation that can make a significant difference in people’s lives,” he said. Small steps like closing bedroom doors at night, planning escape routes, or assembling go bags all contribute to safety and peace of mind.

For Heflin, Long Beach isn’t just a city to protect; it’s a home to nurture. “Being able to help prepare our community means more than just responding to emergencies,” he said. “It’s about creating a network of people who can support each other before we even arrive.”

From the youngest resident learning their safe meeting place to neighbors watching out for one another during power outages or storms, Long Beach is building resilience one conversation, one class, and one connection at a time. By empowering residents to plan, connect, and care for one another, leaders like Heflin are helping build a city that is not only ready for emergencies but also ready to face them.

Breaking Down Five Easy Steps To Be Disaster Ready in LB

Being disaster-ready can save your life and the lives of your loved ones. In Long Beach, there are many ways to get involved and help your neighborhood become prepared for any emergency. Details provided by Melanie Miller, public affairs assistant for the Long Beach Fire Department.

Get Alerts - Know What To Do And Stay Informed By:

◆ Sign up for Alert Long Beach.

◆ Follow @longbeachcity on social media platforms.

◆ During a large emergency or disaster, check longbeach.gov/emergency for updates.

◆ Download the MyShake app for information on earthquakes.

Make A Plan To Protect Your People

◆ Write down key contacts (local and out-of-town) and share them with family, friends, and caregivers so you can check-in and reunite, if separated. Discuss a safe meeting place with everyone in your residence in case of an emergency, this includes small children.

Pack A Go Bag

◆ Pack IDs, insurance documents, medicines, cash, phone charger, and essentials for each household member, so you can leave quickly if needed.

Build A Stay Box For When You Can’t Leave

◆ Store at least three days of water (3 gallons per person), non-perishable food, flashlight, radio, and supplies for when you must shelter in place without power or water.

Help Friends And Neighbors Get Ready

◆ Talk with nearby residents about needs and resources; be ready to help or get help from neighbors, especially vulnerable groups like seniors or those with disabilities.

◆ “One way to support your neighbors is to begin planning for emergencies together as a neighborhood. To help with this effort, the City has relaunched its ‘Ready Your Long Beach Neighborhood’ program that is designed to help you, your family, and your neighborhood prepare for disasters,” Melanie suggested. If just one neighbor from each block in Long Beach did this free training, our city would be even more prepared for the next time a disaster hits.

Other Important Items To Consider:

◆ Plan for Special Needs – Ensure extra medications, medical devices, pet supplies, infant care items, and caregiver arrangements are ready; know local shelters that accept pets. (The Red Cross sometimes sets up shelters that allow pets/ animals; Long Beach City shelters are not equipped.)

◆ Prepare for Specific Disasters – Follow tailored safety steps for earthquakes, wildfires, floods, severe storms, heat waves, and power outages—such as practicing drills, avoiding flooded roads, or keeping N95 masks on-hand for smoke.

What To Do Before/During Each Possible Disaster:

Wildfires

◆ Before: Clear brush, clean gutters, check hoses, prepare evacuation plans.

◆ During: Leave immediately when told; close windows/doors; prepare pets; avoid smoky areas.

Wildfire Smoke

◆ Before: Get high-quality masks/air purifiers, plan to stay indoors, check air quality (airnow.gov).

◆ During: Keep doors/windows closed, turn off ventilation, avoid candles/lanterns, call 9-1-1 if breathing issues arise.

Floods

◆ Before: Keep drains clear, move valuables upstairs, stock sandbags/tarps, sign up for weather alerts. TIP: Sandbags are available at Long Beach Fire Stations for residents leading up to major storms and at select locations. Availability will be announced prior to larger storm events.

◆ During: Never walk/drive in moving water, move to higher ground, call 9-1-1 if trapped.

Severe Storms

◆ Before: Secure outdoor items, remove dead trees, keep gas tanks half full, and know escape routes. TIP: Know at least two ways out of your home and neighborhood. There is no way to know whether a specific route will be impacted, so having 2 or more ways out is recommended.

◆ During: Stay away from trees/power lines, shelter indoors, evacuate quickly if ordered.

Extreme Heat

◆ Before: Find cooling centers, wear light clothing, stay hydrated, and check on elderly neighbors. TIP: All Long Beach Public Library and Park Community Center locations are designated as cooling centers during normal business hours.

◆ During: Stay indoors if possible, never leave kids/pets in cars, watch for signs of heat illness.

Fast & Cold Water

◆ Before: Bring/borrow life vests, plan safe recreation spots, assign child lookouts.

◆ During: Avoid trying to rescue others, call 9-1-1; exit cold water quickly to prevent hypothermia.

Power Outages

◆ Before: Stock flashlights/lanterns (no candles), keep phones charged, buy food that won’t spoil, fill the car tank.

◆ During: Keep fridge closed, unplug electronics, use generators/stoves outdoors only.

Earthquakes

◆ Before: Secure tall furniture, practice drills, download the MyShake app, and learn how to shut off utilities.

◆ During: Drop, cover, and hold on; stay indoors; if outside, move away from falling hazards; prepare for aftershocks.

◆ After: Check for gas or water leaks and shut-off utilities, if needed. Check on family, pets, and neighbors. Call the out-of-area contact to check in and inform them of your status. Seek information to stay informed about any pertinent details related to the earthquake. TIP: Make sure MyShake is downloaded as it has an early warning system that could provide you with seconds of warning so that you and your loved ones can take protective measures i.e., Drop, Cover, Hold on.