Earthquake/Tsunami Procedures

District personnel shall perform the following steps after an earthquake or tsunami has been declared:

  1. Confirm your family & home are safe. Move your family to a safe location, if necessary.
  2. Anticipate a page-out from "800" announcing the event.
    OFFICERS: If no pager alarm occurs within 2-3 minutes, radio "800" to tone the district out. Only one person needs to do this; others should stay off the radio. If you get no answer from "800" after three tries, assume they are out of service.
  3. Respond to your stations. Check bridges before crossing to determine whether they are safe for crossing. Note all road conditions en-route to station.
  4. Perform a quick exterior check of station condition. Do not enter the building if it is unstable.
  5. Pull apparatus out and away from building and all overhead obstructions (i.e. power lines, trees, etc.)
  6. Radio your response status to "800" if they are in service and/or surrounding stations (e.g. "Station 81 manned - all apparatus in-service" or "Station 81 collapsed, all/some apparatus out-of-service", etc).
  7. Stations 81, 82, 84 and 85 shall immediately evacuate to higher ground. Take all portable radios and apparatus in priority order: #1 Engines, #2 Rescues, #3 Tenders, #4 Brush trucks. Do not go onto the beach or patrol low level ares until cleared by the EOC. The standard evacuation locations are as follows:
    1. 81 - High school
    2. 82 - PC Heights (Elderberry Lane @ High Road)
    3. 84 - Hill Crest area or Pacific Overlook
    4. 85 - Forestry Road #1106 near mp 3.5 on Sandlake Rd. or Cape Lookout Road near the Scout Camp entrance.
  8. Stations 83 and 86 shall:
    1. Contact each other to confirm operational status - phone/radio. Request permission from "800" (if operational) to test the 9-1-1 system. Place one call on 9-1-1 from each station. Make it short and get off the phone.
    2. Perform an in-depth evaluation of your station to determine the extent of damage. Report your status to the available senior officer.
  9. All stations should attempt radio contact with the next nearest station to determine operational status: 81 >> 82 ; 82 >> 85 ; 83 >> 86 ; 84 >> 82.
  10. Limit travel about the area. Rescues can check condition of bridges in the local response area after situation stabilizes. Use status reports from incoming firefighters to limit unnecessary travel.
  11. Coordinate operations with "800", EOC, other stations, TCSO, ambulances, etc.

PRIORITIZE RESPONSES. LIMIT VEHICLE TRAVEL. CONSERVE RESOURCES (Gas, Attack Water, Drinking Water, etc.). BE SAFETY CONSCIOUS AT ALL TIMES!