November 6, 2015
SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS
Facebook: facebook.com/garcetti
Twitter: @LAMayorsOffice
Instagram: @LAMayorsOffice
MAYOR GARCETTI SIGNS EXECUTIVE DIRECTIVE ON EL NIÑO PREPARATIONS, ANNOUNCES TWO AGREEMENTS TO HELP ANGELENOS DURING EMERGENCIES
L.A. cell phone users will be able to use any functioning network during an emergency, regardless of a customer’s service provider
LOS ANGELES – Mayor Eric Garcetti today signed an Executive Directive to ensure the City of Los Angeles is fully prepared for the heavy rainfall and potential impacts of this season’s El Niño weather pattern.
“This El Niño is expected to be the strongest on record, and we must be ready for everything that comes with heavy rain,” said Mayor Garcetti. “I’m making sure the City of Los Angeles is prepared for whatever El Niño may bring, and I encourage all Angelenos to do the same for their homes and families.”
The 14th Executive Directive of Mayor Garcetti’s administration creates an El Niño Task Force comprised of thirteen City departments, which will focus on the short- and long-term planning specific to the heavy rain, flooding, erosion, and debris flow associated with El Niño. The Task Force will be led by the Emergency Management Department, which continually works to prepare for, respond to, and recover from any major emergency in the City of Los Angeles.
Mayor Garcetti also announced two private-sector agreements to enhance the ability of the City and all Angelenos to respond effectively in the event of an emergency:
- A memorandum of understanding between the City and wireless service providers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon to share their networks in the aftermath of an emergency — enabling voice and data traffic to be carried on any functioning network, regardless of a customer’s service provider.
- A contract with two national companies with expertise in large-scale disaster mitigation and recovery — AshBritt Environmental and CTI Environmental — to provide on-call response and recovery services during catastrophic incidents. In the event that City resources are exhausted after an emergency, these providers will mobilize to provide emergency essential needs to City residents and City recovery efforts.
Mayor Garcetti took this opportunity to encourage all Angelenos to prepare for the El Niño season and to register with NotifyLA, the City’s mass notification system. All individuals who register will receive information via voice, text, or email message alerts if their designated geographic area is impacted by an emergency.
To register for NotifyLA and to find extensive information about storm and emergency preparedness, go to www.ElNinoLA.com
