Emergency Preparedness
Get Your Water Supply Prepared for Emergencies
Getting your water supply prepared for emergencies now can help you in the future.
Here are some tips to help you prepare:
- Store enough bottled water for everyone in your household, including pets. A household should store 1 gallon for each person and pet for 3 days.
- Make sure to check expiration dates on store-bought bottled water throughout the year and replace as needed. If you fill your own containers, store water in a cool, dark place and replace water every six months.
- In an emergency drink at least a half of a gallon (2 quarts) of water per day. Children, pregnant women and people who are sick should drink as much as a gallon per day. If the temperatures are warm, drink as much as a gallon per day.
- Do not ration water, and never risk dehydration.
- Only drink clean water. If you run out of safe drinking water in an emergency, you can boil water for use. Bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and let water cool naturally before using or drinking.
- Learn where the water shut-off valve to your home is. It is not the same as the water meter. If there are broken water or sewage lines, shut off the water to your house in order to avoid letting unsafe water enter your home.
Get more info on emergency preparedness and response from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at emergency.cdc.gov.
Additional Emergency Preparation
Whether it’s a flood, earthquake, wildfire or power outage, when a natural disaster hits we don’t always have a lot of time to act. Your personal safety is paramount. Listed below are some important tips you should follow in the event of an emergency, in addition to staying tuned to news media for additional information.
Long Beach Utilities Department Emergency Numbers:
(562) 570-2390 – Water and Sewer Emergencies
(562) 570-2140– Gas Emergencies
When should I call 911?
Dispatchers assist residents in the case of emergencies such as:
- Injured persons who need Fire/Rescue immediately
- In-progress calls (calls that are happening at that moment, or where criminals have just left the scene of the incident)
- Situations which may result in an immediate threat to life or property
Non-Emergency Assistance
If your situation does not require immediate assistance, you can contact law enforcement by dialing their non-emergency number.
Non-Emergency Numbers
Police Departments
Fire Department
Animal Control
Utility Agencies