Hidden Hills

Preparedness Starts at Home

Home Safety Plan

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:

  1. Update your contact information with SCE
  2. Sign up for PSPS alerts
  3. Create a safety plan for all members of your family, including pets
  4. Prepare an emergency supply kit
    1. Stock supplies for a week – including flashlights, first aid supplies, food, water, and cash
  5. Fully charge your mobile phone
  6. Make sure any backup power sources are ready to safely operate
  7. Have a battery-powered or crank radio
  8. Stock up on the right batteries for items you rely on
  9. Keep a full tank of gas in your car
  10. Practice opening and closing your garage door manually
  11. Keep emergency numbers handy
  12. 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.