Village News

This week’s local devastation caused by the Irvine Silverado fire brings into sharp focus the need for all residents to know where they can find news and updates regarding disasters and emergencies outside the community and to understand that the Village is thoroughly prepared for disaster here at home. 

Fire Resources

At no time has the Village been in any danger due to the Silverado Fire. No messages were sent regarding evacuation as there was no need for it at any time. If there were danger and evacuation was necessary, residents most definitely would have heard about it via the CodeRED emergency alert system and other communications resources. Unfortunately, unsubstantiated rumors spread quickly and lead to unnecessary anxiety and stress. Instead, rely on facts from trusted sources. 

• Enroll in Alert OC to receive updates and notifications.
• Visit the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) at ocfa.org for updates regarding wildfires. 
• Check the OCFA Twitter page, @OCFA_PIO, which is updated regularly to report acreage burned, percent contaminated and evacuations.
• Visit the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website, which includes evacuations resources for all Orange County municipalities.

Resident Emergency Notification System

As always, Village Management Services continually monitors municipal and government information sources and communicates any potential danger to residents via our CodeRED emergency notification system. In the event of an emergency or the need to broadcast critical time-sensitive news, CodeRED transmits brief, urgent messages to Village residents as quickly as possible via a phone call, a text message or an email.

If you are not enrolled in CodeRED, simply visit lagunawoodsvillage.com, click the black and red CodeRED icon at the top right-hand corner and fill out the form.

Disaster Preparedness Task Force

The Village has a strong and well-rehearsed Disaster Preparedness Task Force (DPTF) led by Security Chief Carlos Rojas, who has significant experience in emergency response management. All key VMS employees and the network of committed, volunteer Good Neighbor captains participate in annual drills to prepare for any type of emergency, including earthquakes, flood and fire. Read more about Village preparedness and the DPTF here. 

In addition, the Social Services Division is always on alert when it comes to the safety of the older residents with whom they work.

Further, the Village’s Emergency Operations Plan aligns with industry standard protocols and addresses the specific threats Laguna Woods Village may face. The plan conforms to the National Incident Management System and the Incident Command System, and has received the Excellence in Disaster Preparedness award from the American Red Cross. The Emergency Operations Center Activation Guide serves as a quick-start guide to the Emergency Operations Plan. The information contained in the plan details the guidelines and protocols that are essential for handling a disaster as effectively and efficiently as possible.

For more Village news, click on the tag “What’s Up in the Village” below.