Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske -- who is a Registered Nurse Practitioner and a former Emergency Medical Technician who has been urging emergency preparedness for years -- has organized the free event on Saturday March 9 at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m....almost exactly 80 years to the day since the 1933 Long Beach earthquake.

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Councilwoman Schipske will present a brief historical review of the March 10, 1933 quake...and experts say the next big So. Cal earthquake could be worse (see videos below), predicting 53,000 people injured, 1,800 dead, 300,000 buildings damaged, many roads collapsed, over 1,600 large fires burning and people trapped in their homes and cars for days. Water and electricity could be out for months; large aftershocks would continue for weeks, perhaps months.

USGS "Shakeout" scenario shakemap

Federal, state, local emergency officials and a number of experts will be present at Saturday's event to discuss how to get ready for this.

The event will be facilitated by KCET/28 anchor Val Zavala, who's featured on the station's programs that promote emergency preparedness. Among the participants:

• Karen Felzer, Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Service (who will present "Earthquake 101 (USGS)")

• Veronica Verde, External Affairs Officer, and Josie Arcurio, Director of Pasadena Office of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (will speak abou FEMA's role in a natural disaster)

• Jeanne Garcia, Emergency Service Coordinator, California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) (state emergency plan for So. Cal earthquakes)

• Reggie Harrison, Deputy City Manager, City of Long Beach (what LB is doing to get ready)

• LBFD Asst. Chief, Christopher Rowe (information on what to expect in a major earthquake)

• Patty Allen, President, Community Emergency Response Team (what CERT does and how to become trained)

• Tom Bryan, Volunteer Community Disaster Education Chairman, and Gullimero Sanchez, Public information Manager, American Red Cross (how to prepare your household for an earthquake)

• Veronica Ornelas, City of Long Beach Health Educator and Long Beach Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator (what the LB Medical Reserve Corps does and how to get involved)

• Lunch and KCET video: Bracing for a Quake: A Survival Guide will be provided at noon followed by a breakout session with members of the American Red Cross who will help participants prepare their neighborhoods.

"Getting prepared for a major emergency, no matter what type, involves the same process. You need to assemble an emergency kit with things like water, food, and other supplies to get you through the first couple of days. It will buy you some time until you are able to make your way to an evacuation shelter or utility lines are restored. Then you need to sit down with your family and come up with an emergency plan. Decide where you will meet, how you will let people know you are ok, and an evacuation route."

Earthquake Preparation Workshop
March 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
El Dorado Community Center, 2800 Studebaker Road, Long Beach