Disaster Preparedness
- Evacuation

Pre-Planning for Evacuation

An order to evacuate could come at any moment. By planning ahead, individuals can evacuate quickly and safely without sacrificing important documents and family mementos. Copies of important and irreplaceable documents or family pictures should be made, and the originals placed in a bank safe deposit box away from home. The goal should be to spend as little time as possible collecting possession following an evacuation order.

Evacuation Checklist:

• Lock door and windows and turn off utilities as you would for a vacation.
• Shut off systems that draw outside air, such as fire places, furnaces and air conditioners.
• If you can provide transportation for a neighbor who has none, do so.
• Bring essential items, such as:
  • Medical supplies (prescriptions, first aid)
  • Money (cash, credit cards, important documents)
  • Personal hygiene items (washing, shaving, dental, eye-care, sanitary)
  • Clothing, bedding
  • Baby needs (formula, diapers, favorite toys)
  • Portable radio and batteries
  • Miscellaneous useful items (matches, flashlights, plastic bags, manual can opener)
• Keep your radio tuned to a local station for emergency news updates.

Alert & Warning to Evacuate

Depending upon the nature and location of the disaster/emergency, there may be a sufficient amount of time for Law Enforcement to alert residents of the need to prepare to evacuate. Evacuation orders will be accomplished primarily with the use of loud speakers and door to door contacts. The goal will be to safety move the affected population AWAY from the disaster site to pre-established emergency shelters or relocate until the disaster is under control and it is safe to return.

As the emergency unfolds, the City Public Information Officer in conjunction with the American Red Cross will prepare and issue a statement to the local media and Emergency Broadcast System, providing precise information about the location of the disaster, evacuation routes and temporary shelters.

Children

An evacuation order could occur during school hours. If you have children at school in the affected areas, do not try to pick them up. These facilities will be following their own evacuation procedures. Contact your child's school for more information about its evacuation procedures. For more information on planning for children in disaster situations, see Special Needs Populations.

Seniors

The Laguna Beach Fire Department, in conjunction with the Laguna Beach Seniors Club, maintains a list of the names and addresses of senior citizens whom could require assistance in the case of an evacuation. It is important if you know such a senior to supply their name and address to the Laguna Beach Fire Department at 497-0700. For more information on planning for seniors in disaster situations, see Special Needs Populations.

Pets

Most pet owners understandably worry about leaving their pets behind in a rushed, evacuation situation. Local Animal Control officers will attempt to hold wayward pets until theirs owners can claim them, but residents have the ultimate responsibility for keeping their pets indoors or in the backyard, and prepared for an evacuation situation. Pet owners should always keep a leash and carrying box ready for use. For more information on pet care during disaster situations, see Special Needs Populations.

Evacuation Directions

When an Evacuation Order is given, Public Safety officers will direct residents away from the disaster to the nearest shelter facility via the safest route as determined by the Laguna Beach Police Department. Given Laguna's dense hillside neighborhood development, it is a safe assumption that hilltop residents will be directed down one or more (if accessible) streets to Coast Highway or Laguna Canyon Road.

* Note: Depending upon the scope of the disaster, Police may choose to open ALL lanes of Coast Highway, Glenneyre and Laguna Canyon Road to ONE WAY traffic, as a means of facilitating movement away from the disaster scene.

The main thoroughfares leading to Coast Highway are the following:

Top of the World/Temple Hills
Park Avenue Third Street Skyline Drive Mystic Way Temple Hills Drive Thalia Street * Emergency Access Road from Old Top Of the World Drive to Arch Beach Heights at Balboa/Del Mar
Arch Beach Heights
Summit Drive/Diamond Bluebird Canyon Drive Alta Vista Nyes Place Bluebird Canyon Morningside Drive Oriole Drive Bluebird Canyon Drive Cress Street * The City has budgeted for a study to provide an alternative emergency accessway out of Bluebird Canyon.
South Laguna
Wesley Drive Catalina Ave 1st Street 2nd Street 3rd Street 4th Street 5th Street 7th Street 8th Street 9th Street 10th Street * Aliso Creek/ AWMA Road Behind Ben Brown's Golf Course
Three Arch Bay
Vista del Sol