Community Preparedness

            It is clear from recent history that our community faces challenges and threats that can not be dealt with on an individual basis. Everything from September 11, 2001, crime, natural disasters or epidemics impact us all a as a community. The lesson of New Orleans and other sites of unexpected disasters is that preparedness saves lives, emotional and financial cost and suffering. Hermosa Beach is no exception. We are a community and we will function best as a group. Most important is awareness that we face adversities, challenges and threats and that we can best deal with them as a prepared community.

            HERMOSA BEACH MOMS was created out of the adversities of three MOMS who recognized that they were brought to their knees with the human suffering that they had arisen from the terrorist attack on our Nation, the Asian Tsunami that killed over 100,000 people and then finally by Hurricane Katrina and the levee break.  Adversities are inevitable. We can quit and lose -- or we can keep trying and win. We decided to learn from the misfortunes of others and resurrected a program in Hermosa Beach that had been dismantled formally for over 30 years.  This program is the Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch.  In the past, Neighborhood Watch programs were designed to assist the police department with the prevention of crimes by being aware of ones’ surroundings.  Today, Neighborhood Watch programs have adopted Disaster Preparedness in their education and safety to neighbors. We have developed EDUCATION, COMMUNITY SERVICE and FUNDRAISING FOR OUR HB SCHOOLS with the establishment of Hermosa Beach MOMS and Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch.

Potential Threats include:

·         Terrorism and bioterrorism events (at the airport, Port of

       Los Angeles or directly in Hermosa Beach)

·         Disruption of basic utilities (water, power, roads, sewage)

·         Epidemics (Flu, West Nile, others)

·         Crime

·         Natural disasters (flooding, tsunami, earthquake, storm)

Preparedness requires:

·         Knowledge and education for your family

·         Understanding of basic services available

·         Water supply and survival kit

·         First aid kit

·         Updated immunizations

·         Participation in Neighborhood Watch

A society that does not correctly interpret and appreciate its past cannot understand its present fortunes and adversities and can be caught unawares in a fast changing world.
~Ibrahim Babangida