Manhattan Beach Urges Residents to Sign Up for Emergency Alerts and Take Immediate Preparedness Steps
The City of Manhattan Beach is reminding all residents of the critical need to be prepared for all-hazard emergencies, including storms, earthquakes, and other large-scale events. Proactive preparation, including having an emergency kit and registering for official City alerts, is the best way to protect your home and family.
Step 1: Register for Emergency Alerts Today
In a disaster, communication is key. The City of Manhattan Beach uses the regional system, Alert SouthBay, as its official emergency alert and warning notification platform. This system delivers critical safety information directly to you via text, email, and phone.
How to Register:
Online: Visit AlertSouthBay.com to create a profile and sign up for text alerts.
Text: Text MBAlerts to 888-777.
Step 2: Build Your Emergency Kits and Go-Bag
Every household should have an Emergency Kit and a separate Go-Bag (or 'Grab-and-Go' Bag) that is easily accessible in case of an immediate evacuation.
Emergency Kit (7 to 10 Days of Supply): The kit should contain enough supplies to last at least three days, and ideally up to a week. Key components include:
Water: One gallon per person per day, for drinking and sanitation.
Food: A 7-10 day supply of non-perishable food.
First Aid Kit.
Lighting & Power: Flashlight and extra batteries.
Communication: A battery-powered or hand-crank radio.
Your Go-Bag Checklist: This smaller, grab-and-go kit should be prepared for immediate evacuation. Items to include:
Medications and Prescriptions.
Important Documents: Copies of IDs, credit cards, passports, and insurance papers.
Cash (small bills).
Personal Items: Change of clothes, sturdy shoes, and glasses/contacts.
Pet Bag: Include a leash and vaccine records for your pets.
Remember the 5 P's: If you have minimal time to evacuate, focus on getting the most important things:
People
Pets
Pills (medication)
Photos (or hard drives/flash drives with digital memories)
Papers (important documents)
Step 3: Prepare for Storm Hazards
With heavy rains and high winds always a possibility, residents should take steps to mitigate damage and stay safe from flooding and power outages.
Sandbag Availability To protect your property from flooding, the City provides sandbags free of charge to Manhattan Beach residents:
Limit: 10 pre-filled bags per household.
Requirement: Residents must bring proof of Manhattan Beach residency.
Pickup Locations:
Public Works Yard - 3621 Bell Avenue (check into Administration Office prior to retrieval).
Fire Station 1 - 400 15th Street.
Flooding and Wind Safety
Clear Drains: Clean rain gutters and storm drains of any debris.
Wind Damage: Trim any trees that may contact your home or power lines.
Power Outages: Prepare for outages by charging devices and checking the outage status at sce.com/outage.
Downed Wires: Never touch a downed power line; call 9-1-1 to report it.
Avoid Floodwaters: Do not drive or walk through flooded areas. Turn Around, Don't Drown!
