It’s time to make that disaster plan

There’s no time like the present to make a personal disaster plan.

With all the natural disasters that Laguna is subject to -- fires,

landslides, earthquakes, floods, even a tsunami -- residents of this

area have had more experience than most in dealing with the

unthinkable.

Last Sunday’s minor landslide on Oriole Drive -- and the

subsequent evacuation of three homes -- is yet more proof that

planning is essential if the city’s record of “no lives lost” in

wildfires or landslides is to hold up. (There have been deaths in

mudslides, however.)

As we’ve recently learned, in a major disaster -- like Hurricane

Katrina -- one cannot count on “first responders” to be there.

The first responders or their families may be in a calamitous

situation themselves. Roads may be impassable. It’s up to the

community to be the first responders in that worst-case scenario.

Still, few community members turned out at a number of meetings

sponsored by the Fire Department, despite the imminent threat of

wildfire season.

Yet we learned of one small enclave of residents who are banding

together to be each other’s first responders -- thereby taking the

planning one step further. They are, indeed, a model for the rest of

Laguna.

There’s lots of information out there about making a plan and

getting together the items that will be lifesavers in the event that

one’s home is no longer safe and evacuation is needed.

The American Red Cross has oodles of information and advice about

how to prepare.

Much of the equipment is the same sort of stuff one would take on

a camping trip -- with the inclusion of important documents and

plentiful water.

It may seem redundant, but the Red Cross’ advice bears repeating:

“There are six basics you should stock for your home: water, food,

first-aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools and emergency

supplies, and special items.

“Keep the items that you would most likely need during an

evacuation in an easy-to carry container. Possible containers include

a large, covered trash container, a camping backpack or a duffle bag.

“Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:

* Will, insurance policies, contracts deeds, stocks and bonds

* Passports, social security cards, immunization records

* Bank account numbers

* Credit card account numbers and companies

* Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone

numbers

* Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

“Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.

Keep a smaller version of the supplies kit in the trunk of your car.”

This weekend wouldn’t be a bad time to get those items together.

For more, visit o7www.redcross.org.

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Should city officials consider not allowing some destroyed homes

to be rebuilt in the Bluebird Canyon landslide zone? Write us at P.O.

Box 248, Laguna Beach, CA, 92652, e-mail us at

o7coastlinepilot@latimes.com f7or fax us at 494-8979. Please give

your name and tell us your home address and phone number for

verification purposes only.