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Planning for Seniors

In the United States, the number of seniors is constantly increasing. From 2007 to 2017, the number of adults aged 60 and over increased from 52 million to 71 million. As of 2016, 12.5% of Orange County’s population is 65 and older, which is projected to double by 2040 when almost one in four residents will be 65 or older.

With such a large aging population, seniors need to be prepared for any disaster situation with different measures depending on their personal state of health, and what they would need in the event of a disaster.

Seniors with disabilities should take extra precautions to prepare in advance. Emergency kits for seniors and those with disabilities should last for seven days, and a strong support network is critical.

Planning for those with Disabilities, Access and Functional Needs

For Orange County citizens with physical, medical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities, any emergency from floods to wildfires can prove a significant challenge.

 If you or someone close to you has a disability and other access and functional needs, you may need to take additional steps to protect yourself and your family in an emergency. Discuss these ideas with your family, friends, caregiver, or anyone else in your support network.

Download the American Red Cross’  Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities and Access and Functional Needs

For additional information on services or resource centers, visit the California Office of Emergency Services Office of Access and Functional Needs at:  Cal OES OAFN

Planning for Pets

Our pets completely depend on us for their care and safety. It’s important to prepare them along with your families. Create or update your pet emergency kit today, to reduce stress in evacuations. If you have a plan in place for you and your pets, you will likely encounter less difficulty, stress and worry when you need to make a decision during an emergency. If local officials ask you to evacuate, that means your pet should evacuate too. If you leave your pets behind, they may end up lost, injured or worse.

City of Westminster, Storm Preparedness

Read our Storm Preparedness Guide for more information on how you and your family can be prepared for a storm.

Sandbags

During inclement weather, sandbags are available at the City of Westminster Municipal Corporation Yard.  Sandbags are limited to 12 bags per resident.

City Yard
14381 Olive Street
Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 895-2876
Monday - Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Residents are asked to bring identification showing proof of residency. If you have any questions, please call the City Yard at (714) 895-2876.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

West County CERT is a unique blend of volunteers from all walks of life with very diverse backgrounds, knowledge, and experience. We work with the police departments of Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, and Westminster to:

• Educate and prepare our neighbors within these communities for emergencies and disasters.
• Maintain readiness through training service.
• Support the men and women in these police departments and throughout Orange County CA when called upon.

We have found in every situation, anyone who has completed the CERT Basic Training can contribute, regardless of their age or physical abilities. Each Team member adds to the camaraderie, spirit, and abilities of the Team. In a disaster situation, we focus on doing the most good for the most people and everyone can share in that outcome.

Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service

RACES, or Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service, is a government-sponsored program in which licensed amateur radio operators volunteer to provide essential communications for state and local governments during declared emergencies or disasters. These "ham radio" operators offer critical communication support, operating independently of phone and internet infrastructure, to agencies like emergency operations centers, hospitals, and shelters when normal systems are down. RACES is a protocol created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and promoted by FEMA, allowing amateur radio operators to support public safety functions under local government oversight.

Southern California Edison (SCE)

View current outages, sign up for alerts on status, or report a new outage in the Outage Center.

American Red Cross

Red Cross volunteers and staff work to deliver vital services – from providing relief and support to those in crisis, to helping you be prepared to respond in emergencies.

Preparing your Business

Preparing makes good business sense. Be ready to assess the situation and available resources to take care of yourself, your co-workers, and your business. You are not alone — there are Orange County resources available to help you, your business and our community. Above all, be informed about the kinds of disasters that most often affect Orange County businesses.

For additional business information, please contact our Westminster Chamber of Commerce.

Preparing your Faith-Based Organization

Faith-based organizations are a vital part of our community. When disaster strikes, houses of worship become safe havens in the neighborhood. ReadyOC, Orange County’s emergency preparedness program, hosts FREE events to ensure that everyone including churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, and community-based organizations are prepared.

Through the collaboration of faith-based organizations and government agencies, we can work together to educate and empower our communities to prepare before disasters strike. Our preparedness information and valuable resources help your congregation and organization members understand the importance of preparedness.

FEMA Template Emergency Operations Plan for Houses of Worship.

Get Help  

If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, simply dial 2-1-1 or search for local health and human services resources.

Visit: 211oc.org