Living in Southern California means living with two of nature’s most powerful forces — wildfire and earthquakes.

Both are part of our landscape, both can strike without warning, and both demand that we take preparedness seriously.

For more than a decade, MySafe:LA has been on the front lines of helping Angelenos prepare for both kinds of disasters — teaching students, seniors, and families that the difference between chaos and survival often comes down to what you do before the disaster begins.

Two Hazards, One Mindset: Be Ready

Wildfire and earthquakes may seem completely different — one starts with fire, the other with shaking ground — but the way we prepare for them shares the same foundation: readiness saves lives.

• For wildfires, the plan is READY, SET, GO!
  
• For earthquakes, it’s DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON.

Both systems are built around a simple truth: when the moment comes, there’s no time to think — only to act.

Preparation gives you the reflexes and confidence to act safely and quickly.

READY, SET, GO! — Preparing for Wildfire

Wildfire preparedness begins long before the first spark.

In Los Angeles County, where dry vegetation, steep hillsides, and Santa Ana winds create extreme fire danger, MySafe:LA works with communities to help residents:

• READY – Create defensible space, harden homes against embers, and build a family evacuation plan.
  
• SET – Monitor Red Flag Warnings, know evacuation routes, and gather emergency supplies.
  
• GO! – Leave early when ordered; don’t wait for visible flames.

“Wildfire safety starts in the quiet months,” says David Barrett, Executive Director of MySafe:LA. “If you’ve cleared brush, prepared your home, and practiced evacuation, you’re already saving your family valuable minutes when danger arrives.”

DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON — Surviving an Earthquake

An earthquake gives no warning. But just like wildfire, the steps you take before it hits — and the reflexes you practice — make all the difference.

MySafe:LA has been an active leader in earthquake preparedness since 2008, working alongside:

• The Southern California Earthquake Center at USC,
• Caltech,
• The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and
• The Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD).

Together, these partners have developed live drills for LAUSD campuses, interactive community preparedness events, and specialized programs for older adults.

The message is simple and powerful:

• DROP to the ground before the quake knocks you down.
• COVER your head and neck under sturdy furniture or next to an interior wall.
• HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

“Practicing ‘Drop, Cover, and Hold On’ makes it automatic,” explains Barrett. “When the real quake comes, your body reacts without hesitation — that’s what saves lives.”

The Great ShakeOut 2025: A Moment to Practice

On October 16, 2025, at exactly 10:16 AM, millions of Californians will take part in the Great ShakeOut, the world’s largest earthquake preparedness drill.

Participants across Los Angeles — from schools and offices to fire stations and households — will DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON for one minute, simulating a major earthquake response.

You can register your family, workplace, or school at ShakeOut.org and join this powerful statewide exercise.

“Preparedness isn’t just about information — it’s about muscle memory,” said Chris Nevil, MySafe:LA’s Captain for Operations. “When people practice both wildfire and earthquake readiness, they’re protecting their families in every season.”

Building a Culture of Safety in Los Angeles

MySafe:LA’s mission is to help Los Angeles become a disaster-resilient city — one where people know what to do, how to prepare, and how to recover.

Whether the danger comes from flames or fault lines, the goal is the same:

Know the plan. Practice the response. Protect your family.

Visit mysafela.org or wildfirela.org to learn how to prepare for both wildfires and earthquakes.

Together, we can make Los Angeles safer — one plan, one drill, and one community at a time.