Long Beach residents can learn safety techniques to prepare for earthquakes and other natural disasters at a free seminar by the American Red Cross, being held tonight.

The class, dubbed Map Your Neighborhood, (MYN) will teach neighbors to work together as a team to prepare for disasters, said Hilary Anderson, spokesperson for the American Red Cross and trainer at the Long Beach seminar.

“Odds are, in a major event, you and those closest to you will be the first responders,” Anderson said. “MYN is a program designed to help neighborhoods prepare for disasters. The trainings helps to establish the building blocks for communication and partnership among neighbors. Some have said they feel more confident in their ability to respond and help one another.”

The training through a book and DVD entails an overview of basic individual preparedness, a review of the Map Your Neighborhood program components, tips for engaging your neighbors and public speaking, Anderson said.

It is a cost-effective program, she said.

“The majority of the program support materials are available online all free of charge,” Anderson said. “The physical resources a person needs to run a MYN meeting are the booklet and a DVD – the cost of which averages about $1 a booklet and a DVD can be used by multiple groups and has minimal cost. Requesting permission to run the program from Washington State Emergency management is free.”

MYN will hold a free seminar tonight at the Long Beach Chapter of the Red Cross, located at 3150 E. 29th Street, from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.

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