Are You Prepared for an Earthquake?

April is Earthquake Preparedness Month and IUSD would like to take this opportunity to encourage families and students to be prepared.  Taking the following simple steps will go a long way helping to keep you and your family safe during an earthquake or other emergency. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AT SCHOOL Know the emergency plan at your child's school 

We maintain responsibility for our students. Campuses in the Irvine Unified School District will be secured and students will be kept at school until they can safely be released to parents or authorized guardians through an established reunification process. We prepare to be self-sufficient. Though IUSD works closely with the Irvine Police Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and other agencies, it may be necessary to coordinate our own response efforts if emergency personnel are tending to more immediate needs. IUSD staff members have therefore been assigned specific roles and responsibilities, which are practiced during drills throughout the year. Make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information.  Be sure that your school has updated information about how to reach parents and responsible caregivers to arrange for pick-up. During times of emergency the school telephones may be overwhelmed with calls, so it is important your school knows how to reach you. Ways to Stay Connected to IUSD School Messenger.  In 2013, IUSD introduced a brand new notification system, School Messenger, which enables near-instantaneous communication with District families via phone calls and emails. This web-based system enables IUSD to send out emails and pre-recorded calls to families in just minutes.  During an emergency, check your phones, voicemails and emails for the most up-to-date information from the District. Social Media.  Stay connected to the District on Facebook and Twitter.  During recent disasters throughout the U.S. social media has proven to be a very effective and real-time way to communicate, especially when phone lines are jammed.  To connect with IUSD on Facebook, visit facebook.com/irvineunifiedschooldistrict.  To connect with us on Twitter, visit twitter.com/iusd. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AT HOME The following is important information from the Irvine Police Department Office of Emergency Management about earthquake preparedness.  The Office of Emergency Management encourages residents to be prepared by making a family plan, stockpiling emergency supplies and knowing how to stay connected to the City for important updates. Where to Start Start by assembling a supply kit that is tailored to your family’s needs; develop a plan of action for meeting up with and communicating with family members; register your home and cell phones with the City’s iAlert system to receive emergency alerts and information; listen to 1640AM during an emergency for live updates, follow the City on Twitter and Facebook; and take a Community Emergency Response Team course offered by the City. For more emergency preparedness information, visit cityofirvine.org/prepare. Emergency Supply List  It is important for residents to be prepared at home and work. Below is a starter emergency preparedness checklist. Customize your checklist to meet your family's individual needs.

• Water (one gallon per day, per person)
• Non-perishable food (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• A plan to communicate with your family
• A designated meeting location for your family/loved ones
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit and medications (2-week supply)
• Cell phones with chargers
• Multipurpose tool, duct tape, tool kit and scissors
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents
• Family and emergency contact information/card
• Emergency blankets
• Extra cash in $1 and $5 denominations
• Baby supplies; games/activities for children
• Pet supplies
• Miscellaneous: two-way radios, extra keys to car and house and a manual can opener

Emergency Preparedness for Pets (cityofirvine.org/prepare) If you have pets, be sure to include them in your preparations and provide supplies for them as well. Stay connected with the City when disaster strikes: iAlert (cityofirvine.org/ialert) iAlert is the City's mass notification system to provide residents with time-sensitive information during a disaster. Go online to register your home, cell and work phones and to customize your account to receive phone, text or email messages or messages through hearing impaired receiving devices. iAlert is a critical component of Irvine's emergency communications. 1640AM 1640AM is the City's radio station, which is used to provide information to those in and around the Irvine area. Be sure to have your car radio and emergency radio pre-programmed to this station. City of Irvine Website (cityofirvine.org) The City will post updates as soon as possible in the event of an emergency. Social Media Many times when a disaster causes phone service to be disrupted, the Internet is still working. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to receive updates and information. Facebook (Facebook.com/cityofirvine) Twitter (Twitter.com/city_of_irvine) ICTV Cox Channel 30 ICTV is the City's television station that allows us to provide information to residents with Cox Cable (Channel 30) and U-verse (Channel 99) subscribers in and around the Irvine area.