Full Notification

Technology is an important tool used in everyday life. The internet, including social media, is one of the most popular ways to gather information. With effective planning, it is possible to take advantage of technology before, during and after a crisis to communicate with loved ones and manage your financial affairs.

FEMA’s messaging capabilities allow users to receive text message updates from FEMA.  (standard message and data rates apply).

Basic commands to get monthly preparedness tips:

• To sign up to receive monthly preparedness tips: Text PREPARE to 43362 (4FEMA)
• To unsubscribe: text STOP to 43362 (4FEMA)

How to stay connected with friends and loved ones:

• Keep your contacts updated, including phone, email and social media.  This will make it easy to reach out to the right people quickly to get information and supply updates. Consider creating a group list serve of your top contacts.

• Learn how to send updates via text and internet from your mobile phone to your contacts and social channels in case voice communications are not available. Text messages and the internet often have the ability to work in the event of a phone service disruption.

• Keep extra batteries for your phone in a safe place or purchase a solar-powered or hand crank charger. These chargers are good emergency tools to keep your laptop and other small electronics working in the event of a power outage. If you own a car, purchase a car phone charger because you can charge your phone if you lose power at your home.

• Program "In Case of Emergency" (ICE) contacts into your cell phone so emergency personnel can contact those people for you if you are unable to use your phone. Let your ICE contacts know that they are programmed into your phone and inform them of any medical issues or other special needs you may have.

• If you have a traditional landline (non-broadband or VOIP) phone, keep at least one non-cordless receiver in your home because it will work even if you lose power.

• If you are evacuated and have call-forwarding on your home phone, forward your home phone number to your cell phone number.

• If you do not have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card to use if needed during or after a disaster.

• Prepare a family contact sheet. This should include at least one out-of-town contact that may be better able to reach family members in an emergency.

• Have a battery-powered or hand-cranked radio or television available. Have spare batteries on hand. 

Additional tips when using phones in an emergency:

• Keep all phone calls brief. If you need to use a phone, try to convey only vital information to emergency personnel and/or family.
• If you are unsuccessful in completing a call using your cell phone, wait ten seconds before redialing to help reduce network congestion.
• Conserve your cell phone battery by reducing the brightness of your screen, placing your phone in airplane mode, and closing apps you are not using that draw power, unless you need to use the phone.
• If you lose power, you can charge your cell phone in your car. Just be sure your car is in a well-ventilated place (remove it from the garage) and do not go to your car until any danger has passed.
• You can also listen to your car radio for important news alerts on stations.  Torrance area residents can use the following stations:  KFI AM 640, KNX AM 1070, KFWB 980 AM, KROQ 106.7 FM, KRLA 870 AM, KCBS 790 AM, CitiSOUNDS AM 1620.
• Immediately following a disaster, resist using your mobile device to watch streaming videos, download music or videos, or play video games, all of which can add to network congestion. Limiting use of these services can help potentially life-saving emergency calls get through to 9-1-1.
• For non-emergency communications, use text messaging, e-mail, or social media instead of making voice calls on your cell phone to avoid tying up voice networks. Data-based services like texts and emails are less likely to experience network congestion. You can also use social media to post your status to let family and friends know you are okay.

For more information regarding cell phone, internet and social media uses in disasters and many other disaster related tips click the following link:

http://www.ready.gov/get-tech-ready\

Forwarded By:

Torrance Police Department –

Community Affairs Division

310-618-6391 or 310-618-6392

www.Police.TorranceCA.Gov

www.YouTube.com/TPDCommAffairs

www.Facebook.com/TorrancePD

www.Twitter.com/TorrancePD

John Neu

Chief of Police

Torrance Police Department