Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies can happen at any time - whether it's severe weather, an earthquake, or another unexpected event. Being prepared help keep you, your family, and your neighbors safe. Taking simple steps like building an emergency kit, making a plan, and staying informed. Signal Hill Police Department's Emergency Preparedness Division is working to keep the community resilient and encourages residents to do their part by staying prepared.


Citywide Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

The City of Signal Hill is proud to present the City’s 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan outlines potential hazards that could affect the community and details the steps City departments are taking to lessen their impact. The plan is required to be updated every five years, as mandated by the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

The five goals of the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan include:

  1. Protect life and property
  2. Enhance public awareness
  3. Protect natural systems
  4. Encourage partnerships and implementation
  5. Strengthen emergency services

Based on findings from the Risk Assessment and direction from the Planning Committee, the following hazards pose the greatest threat to the City of Signal Hill:

  • Earthquake: Signal Hill is especially susceptible to earthquakes due to its proximity to multiple fault lines
  • Landslide: Areas of high elevation in Signal Hill are susceptible to landslides, particularly after a large seismic event or severe rainstorm
  • Windstorm: The City is highly likely to high winds created by Santa Ana wind events
  • Drought: Signal Hill, like much of California, has a history of experiencing drought, with the possibility of severe drought conditions in the future
  • Flood: During a major rainstorm, some areas of Signal Hill may experience flooding

Click the links below to view the 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan, with summaries available in Spanish and Khmer.

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 2024 (PDF)

Executive Summary Khmer

Executive Summary Spanish

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

Following a major disaster, first responders may not be able to fully meet service demands. With Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, community members can help meet immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs in their neighborhoods. The CERT program provides basic training in safety and life-saving skills to the general public.  

Community Emergency Response Team training is presented in partnership with Los Angeles County Fire.

The City would like to congratulate the Fall 2025 Signal Hill CERT Cadre on their graduation from the course!

Photo of Fall 2025 Signal Hill CERT Cadre with instructors posing in front of Station 60 fire truck

Map Your Neighborhood

Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations can save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma, and reduce property damage. In most major disasters, first responders will not be able to get to you immediately. Your neighbors will likely be the first ones around you to be able to offer assistance. You’ll need to coordinate these crucial efforts, BEFORE a disaster strikes. Knowing what to do in the first hours after a disaster may help save lives, reduce injury, and decrease neighborhood damage.

Signal Hill has a neighborhood focused program available called Map Your Neighborhood. The Map Your Neighborhood program guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to help enhance your preparedness for an emergency. These steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives. It is designed to improve disaster readiness at the neighborhood level, 15-20 homes or a defined area that you can canvas in 1 hour.  It teaches neighbors to rely on each other during the hours or days before fire, medical, police or utility responders arrive. This program is designed to be delivered to residents by residents.

Map Your Neighborhood is currently offered as an add-on training for CERT volunteers. Completion of the Map Your Neighborhood train-the-trainer course will provide residents with a certification that enables them to become block leaders and run their own localized Map Your Neighborhood program.

Red Cross Program 21 Weeks to Prepare

Disasters can change lives in the blink of an eye. Are you prepared? If not, follow this simple schedule developed by the Red Cross to prepare your own survival kit.

21 weeks to prepare daily shopping list