A block-by-block approach to quake readiness

A week after strong earthquakes jolted Southern California, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti urged neighborhood leaders Friday to prepare for the next big one.

Garcetti called on the city’s 100 or so neighborhood councils to appoint “preparedness officers” to work with residents to come up with emergency response plans in case of a massive earthquake or fire.

The mayor wants the preparedness officers to enroll in free, city-led classes on emergencies and disasters, then teach what they’ve learned to their respective groups at block parties or other events.

The city’s Emergency Management Department runs the Ready Your L.A. Neighborhood program, which spells out what to do after an earthquake, including checking on elderly neighbors and turning off gas lines.

“You get to know each other, you get to know what to do, and you form a plan for your neighborhood,” Garcetti said during a news event at a fire station in Sherman Oaks.

Each neighborhood council represents about 40,000 residents, according to the city’s website. The volunteer advisory groups and similar organizations weigh in at City Hall on development, homelessness and other issues. Some of the neighborhood councils already have preparedness officers, Garcetti said.

Valley Glen Neighborhood Assn. representative Katina Shields said residents on her block came up with a plan to go to a prearranged meeting place after a disaster. Neighbors have also made a commitment to look out for one another, she said.

“We know what to do; we know who’s going to do it,” Shields said. “We have a much greater sense of confidence.”