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# Red Cross and city urge Santa Monica families to prepare seven-day emergency plans
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/051906-story-20060519/
- Published: 2006-05-19T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T17:58:06.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

Are you ready for the big one? As part of May being Emergency Preparedness month, the American Red Cross and the city of Santa Monica are recommending that families have an emergency plan for when a major earthquake or other serious disaster occurs. The goal is to be self-sufficient for one week by maintaining a supply of life-sustaining items and having a family disaster plan.A family emergency plan includes emergency exits to get out of the house in case of partial collapse or fire. If the family is scattered at home, work or at school and disaster strikes, determine a central meeting point. Appoint an out-of-town contact who can relay messages to your family members and friends out of the area if local communications are down.

Have a week’s supply of nonperishable foods and water on hand and food for infants and/or special diet needs. Personal hygiene, paper products and plastic garbage bags and pet food. Rotate supplies so they are not stored past their expiration dates.

“One of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina was that three days worth of emergency supplies wasn’t enough,” said John Pacheco, executive director of the American Red Cross of Santa Monica. “Seven days of supplies is recommended by the Red Cross.”

Disaster experts advise keeping a battery-powered radio, flashlights and lots of extra batteries and matches or lighters and a fully stocked First Aid Kit including medicines and eyeglasses. Have cash on hand — at least $100 in small denominations. ATM machines and credit cards are useless without power. For more information, log on to www.ivegot7.com, or call the Santa Monica Red Cross at (310) 394-3773\. That’s the way the fund-raiser bounces

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 19, 2006.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/051906.pdf?ref=smdp.com)