Californians get a lesson on emergency preparedness

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We've all been told to get an emergency kit together, but the reality is most Californians aren't prepared.

Mike Dayton is the Secretary of the California Emergency Management Agency. He says only 40 percent of California residents are ready for an emergency and he's trying to change that.

"One of our missions is to get Californians more prepared so we're trying to capture their attention in any way possible. We are encouraging people to assemble a kit for themselves or a ready kit just in case a disaster strikes and have a family disaster plan."

The expo was giving out pamphlets with valuable information and people could even pick up a free emergency kit from the red cross.

Penny Morris, a mother of two young sons, attended the expo. She walked away determined to make a plan.

"I feel like there's a lot more that i should be doing after coming here. They've had a lot of really good information that's made me think about the fact that I'm not as prepared as I should be."

Steve Lieberman, of the Los Angeles County office of emergency management, summed up the goal for the expo.

"The mantra of the day is just is again be informed, be prepared and be ready."

In light of the recent natural disasters, its important to prepare for what you can't predict.

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