The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide

Topanga is a unique community—both in terms of its community spirit and natural beauty—but natural beauty comes with a price.  The same forces of ecology and geography that make Topanga one of the most spectacular places in Southern California have also made it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as wildfires and floods.

The Topanga Disaster Survival Guide, first published in 2005, is a culmination of planning, insights, best management practices, and recommendations into a single booklet for the Topanga community.

“The current fires in California offer a disturbingly vivid reminder of why Topanga residents must prepare for natural disasters,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, whose office helped fund and finalize the guide.

“As you read through your Survival Guide, you will find potentially life-saving information. Focus on the Preparedness section and then create your Emergency Plan using the templates in the back of the Guide. Every Topanga resident needs an emergency evacuation plan that includes multiple ways to get early notification of a wildfire,” said Scott Ferguson, Board Chair of the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (TCEP).

Stacy Sledge, President of the Topanga Town Council, expressed gratitude to the many organizations and residents who contributed their time to the guide. “This guide is a true labor of love,” she said. “Many people who love this community worked on it, and our efforts, along with the cooperation of our friends and neighbors, will help keep Topanga safe.”

The guide comes as a three-ring binder, ensuring that it can be updated as information changes. If residents do not have a copy of the guide, they can contact Supervisor Kuehl’s Calabasas office at: (818) 880-9416 or Sheila@bos.lacounty.gov.  An online version is available on the Survival Guide page.