To those of us who live and work in the Greater Los Angeles area, earthquakes and other natural emergencies are a reality. In order to deal with this situation, emergency preparedness must become a way of life. In the event of a major earthquake or disaster, freeways and surface streets may be impassable and public services could be interrupted or taxed beyond their limits. Therefore, everyone must know how to provide for their own needs for an extended period of time, whether at work, home, or on the road.

Our goal in distributing this booklet is to encourage you to prepare for a major disaster and to maintain that readiness. Part of becoming ready is having the necessary supplies. Earthquakes and major disasters, in our area, can happen at any time. They are not totally predictable. There may be long periods between disasters. This is why it is important to maintain fresh emergency supplies through rotation of older stock into daily use. The quality of life and the potential for survival are greatly increased by being prepared.