LOS ANGELES, Dec. 15 – The U.S. Census Bureau and the City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department today held a community forum with more than 30 community organizations and other first-response officials about the need for timely demographic and economic data to enhance emergency planning, preparedness and recovery efforts in the event of a natural disaster.

     This was the second in a series of discussions that the Census Bureau plans to hold around the nation to learn from local partners and officials how it can better assist communities in times of need. The initial discussion was held in New York City last week.

     Hurricane Katrina was a test for our nation’s emergency planners. Over the months since the storm, the Census Bureau has been working closely with and assisting national, state and local officials, planners and others charged with maintaining public safety, order and confidence.

     Among the many participants at the Los Angeles forum were the Governor’s Office of Emergency Management, California Department of Finance, Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, City of Los Angeles Department on Disability, Southern California Association of Governments, ESRI, United Way of Los Angeles, the American Red Cross, and the UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge.

     “This record hurricane season and the damage it has caused along the Gulf Coast has forced Los Angeles and the State of California to closely reexamine our plans for natural disasters and other emergencies, including tsunamis, earthquakes, wildfires, floods and mudslides,” said Ellis M. Stanley, Sr., City of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Department general manager. “Today’s discussion specifically looked at how we can better use available census demographic and economic data to help save and rebuild lives.”

     Months after the summer’s natural disasters in the Gulf Coast region, communities from across the country continue to request data about economic activity as well as demographic characteristics of jurisdictions, such as the elderly population, the number of children, those with disabilities, languages spoken other than English and the number of households with and without vehicles.

     As a result, the Census Bureau plans to join community leaders and planners in other cities after the first of the year to discuss the kinds of census data that would be most beneficial to prepare for natural or manmade emergencies.

     The Census Bureau collects detailed, comprehensive data about the nation’s people and its economy. Following Hurricane Katrina, the Census Bureau compiled economic and demographic information and produced thematic statistical maps for the states and counties that were directly affected. Data source included the 2004 American Community Survey, 2004 Current Population Survey estimates, current economic indicator data, the 2002 Economic Census and Census 2000 data.

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