Emergency Preparedness
Michael Woodard, Emergency Services Coordinator
Should a large-scale emergency or natural disaster strike, City staff — in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, and the Hidden Hills CERT team — is prepared to render a variety of aid. The City’s main role would be to serve as the main hub of public information and coordination of resources.
Emergency Notifications
The City’s main tool to send out emergency messages will be through the Blackboard Connect system. All residents with a traditional landline through AT&T should be preloaded into the system. Residents who receive phone services through Spectrum or only use a mobile device are not preloaded into the system and are strongly encouraged to log onto the City’s Blackboard Connect web portal (link to portal) and create or update their profile regardless if they believe they are preloaded into the system. This ensures that all residents’ contact information is current, including mobile numbers and email addresses.
AlertLA
Residents may also sign up for emergency alerts for Los Angeles County through AlertLA.
Hidden Hills CERT Team
The Hidden Hills CERT Team is a group of highly trained resident volunteers that is prepared to assist the City during a large-scale emergency or natural disaster. If you are interested in learning more about CERT, please contact Michael Woodard, Hidden Hills Emergency Services Coordinator or click HERE to be directed to the Los Angeles County Fire Department CERT page.
Know Your Zone
In October 2022, the Los Angeles County Fire Department launched the “Know Your Zone” campaign and the Zonehaven AWARE platform. “Zonehaven” is an interactive online tool designed to provide evacuation, shelter, and real-time information during a large-scale emergency in LA County.
LA County Fire, with LA County Sheriff, has divided the City of Hidden Hills into two zones. Hidden Hills residents are either in zone HID-C501 or HID-C502, with Round Meadow Road being the primary intersection of the two zones. Residents are encouraged to visit community.zonehaven.com to search their address and learn their zone.
Zones will be used in emergency alert notifications, so knowing the name of your zone is an important part of your emergency plan. Learn more about public alert and warning systems in LA County at https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/.
Emergency Preparedness Starts at Home
Emergency preparedness begins at home. Police and Fire agencies train year-round for the “next” event. The City has preparedness plans in place and has recently increased emergency response preparations, all residents should, too. It goes beyond having an emergency kit. Below are several examples of efforts you as a homeowner can do to better prepare your family and property.
Fire Hazardous Landscape
Take a look at what plant material you have on your property. Do you have defensible space? Do you have dead or dry vegetation within 30 feet of your home? Do you keep a wood pile near your home? The Fire Department has identified 5 trees and 1 plant as “High-Hazard” Plants: Eucalyptus, Juniper, Palm, Pine, and Pampas grass. If you have any of these species, consider replacing them with something less hazardous, if not ensure they are properly trimmed and maintained.
Harden Your Home
Take steps to ensure your home is ready for a potential wildfire. Some examples include:
- Address is clearly visible in front of your house
- Chimneys and vents are properly screened to prevent embers from entering your home
- Driveways should provide adequate access for emergency vehicles
- Store necessary equipment on your property or in your garage–examples include hoses hooked up to water, fire extinguishers, shovels
- Keep your property clear of debris, especially combustible debris. If there is a threatening wildfire remove all flammable (baskets, furniture, propane tanks, etc.) away from your home
- Consider purchasing an emergency pool pump that could provide water in an emergency
Create an Emergency Action Plan at Home
It is critical to sit down with your family and put together a plan. Do you have a meeting point for your family? If you have school-aged children, who is picking them up? Do you have a communication plan including out of state relatives to check in with? Do you have an emergency kit? Remember the 6 P’s:
- People and pets
- Papers – phone numbers and important documents
- Prescriptions – vitamins and eyeglasses
- Plastic – credit cards, ATM, and cash
- Personal computers, hard drives, and flash drives
Animals
Do you have a plan for your animals? Can you safely transport your dog or cat? Do you have a horse that you can safely move out of the City? If not, have you arranged for emergency transport?
Be Prepared for Potential Emergencies
An emergency can happen at any time. You can help your family be prepared for any emergency situation with a safety preparedness plan, some basic supplies, and advance planning. Whether an earthquake, storm, or wildfire impacts our City, preparedness will help everyone cope better and stay safer.
Be Ready with Portable Power
A portable power station can help power small devices for a limited time to help you be more resilient during an emergency. If you purchase a qualifying model, you could receive a $50 rebate from SCE. Search Eligible Batteries
Are You Prepared for a Power Outage?
Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) by Southern California Edison (SCE)
When there are extreme and potentially dangerous weather conditions such as high winds, SCE may temporarily shut off power to prevent their electric system from becoming the source of fire ignition. During a PSPS, residents can use this Outage Map to search for impacted areas and additional information. If your power is shut off, SCE will restore power as soon as the weather conditions permit, and crews have inspected the power lines to confirm it is safe to restore power. For status on an outage, please sign up to receive alerts, or call 1-800-655-4555.
Steps to Take Before a PSPS:
- Update your contact information with SCE
- Sign up for PSPS alerts
- Create a safety plan for all members of your family, including pets
- Prepare an emergency supply kit
- Stock supplies for a week – including flashlights, first aid supplies, food, water, and cash
- Fully charge your mobile phone
- Make sure any backup power sources are ready to safely operate
- Have a battery-powered or crank radio
- Stock up on the right batteries for items you rely on
- Keep a full tank of gas in your car
- Practice opening and closing your garage door manually
- Keep emergency numbers handy
- Plan for any medical needs
Preparedness at Home – Bring Back Your Landline
The telephone is the one thing that is most likely to save your life in an emergency! In Hidden Hills, with frustrating internet outages & inadequate cell coverage in many homes, it may be worth considering to bring back an old fashioned telephone landline, now called a POTS line (Plain Old Telephone Service). POTS landlines work during power outages when service is paired with a phone that doesn’t require electricity.
Per AT&T, this service is still available to most customers in California but residents are encouraged to call to confirm if the service is available to activate or re-activate at a particular address. The phone number to call provided by AT&T is 800-288-2020.
Brush Clearance
In the warm summer months, annual brush clearance is a top priority in Hidden Hills. Brush clearance is important because it creates defensible space around homes and properties.
Annual Brush Clearance Inspections
Starting May 1st, the fire department begins brush clearance inspections of approximately 3,000 properties in Hidden Hills and Calabasas. Upon inspection, the department will issue a report to any property owner not in compliance, and will allow 30 days to correct violations. After 30 days, the department will return to complete a second inspection. Firefighters are moving as quickly as they can through their rounds of inspections, which normally continue through late June.
Return of the Goats
Residents may remember seeing the grazing goats at work over the past few summers. The goats are hired by the City each year to expand the required brush clearance along the City’s northern and eastern borders, which back up to Mountain View Estates and Ahmanson Ranch/Upper Las Virgenes open space.
For more information, contact City Hall at 818-888-9281.
