LADWP in the Community - October 2019

October 2019

LADWP Supports Response During Fire Season

LADWP crews have been working closely with LAFD, the Mayor's Office and other emergency response agencies to support response efforts to the recent Saddleridge Fire and the ongoing Getty Fire.

During the height of the Saddleridge Fire, LADWP monitored the situation round the clock keeping a close eye on the fire as it was near the city's drinking water filtration plant. LADWP lost 16 to 17 power poles to the fire, but crews were able to respond as quickly and safely as possible and restored power to impacted to customers. LADWP also assisted fire fighting efforts by providing water from the Los Angeles Reservoir to firefighting helicopters. See the video here.

On October 29, Mayor Garcetti, LAFD Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas and LADWP General Manager Marty Adams hosted a news conference to provide the results of preliminary investigation of the cause of the Getty Fire. LAFD stated that the fire was likely caused by a tree branch that broke off during the high wind conditions and landed on nearby power lines resulting in the sparking and igniting of nearby brush. Read the complete statement here . Meanwhile, LADWP continued to maintain electric and water service to the communities impacted by the fires, while also providing the water for firefighting.

Filipino American History Month:

October 2019

In celebration of Filipino American History Month, we interviewed Water and Power Board Commissioner Susana Reyes who shared her personal history and thoughts about Filipino values and contributions to America. Read her story here.

Public Power Week: First Week of October

Unlike investor owned utilities, public utilities are motivated by the interests of our customers instead of shareholders' earnings. Every first week of October, public power utilities come together to celebrate Public Power Week. Do you know the benefits of municipal power? Learn more here.

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Cybersecurity Awareness Month – Secure Your Smart Devices

Did you know that October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month? Practicing cybersecurity is more important than ever in an increasingly digital world where online theft and scams have become commonplace. At LADWP, we want to create a culture of cybersecurity by educating our customers and employees so they can take proactive steps to identify threats and protect themselves.

Here are some tips to secure your own smart devices (electronics that are connected to the internet):

1. Connect only what you need: If your device doesn’t need to be online, don’t connect it to your Wi-Fi network.

2. Know what you have connected: Turn on your wireless network and audit your connected devices. Perform upgrades to see what is no longer working.

3. Keep it updated: Don’t put off software updates – they might be a patch for a security flaw. Turn on automatic updates if you have them.

4. Use strong passwords: Use unique, complex passwords made up of letters, numbers and symbols. Consider a password manager to securely store it.

5. Do the two-step: Two-factor authentication, such as a one-time code sent to your cellphone, can keep the bad guys out of your accounts.

6. Set up a guest network: Keep your Wi-Fi account private. Visitors, friends and relatives can use a separate network that doesn’t tie into your devices.

7. Avoid public Wi-Fi: When you’re away from home, use a mobile device instead of public Wi-Fi for your device. If you are on public Wi-Fi, use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

8. Configure your privacy settings: If your device allows it, limit the amount of information it collects or shares, or disable information sharing.

9. It’s always listening: If a device takes voice commands, it is constantly listening and can record you. Review privacy options and place it away from sensitive conversations.

10. Give it a name: Manufacturer router names can identify the make or model. Give it an unusual name that doesn’t give away personal information.

Get more cybersecurity tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's CISA here.

Partnering with Neighborhood Councils

LADWP is the only department in the City of Los Angeles with a formal Memorandum of Understanding with Neighborhood Councils committing to regular and ongoing communication about department programs and policies. The DWP-NC MOU and Advocacy Committees meet every first Saturday of the month at 8:45 a.m. at the LADWP Headquarters, 111 N. Hope St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Join us !