Disaster Preparedness & CERT
Sean Wyman, MSMS, OMSIRialto CERT Team Member
Understand the disasters inherent to Southern California.
Discuss preparedness strategies for families.
Understand resources available for further training in disaster preparedness.
Lecture Objectives
Southern California is unique.◦ LA, San Bernardino and surrounding counties are
in “Desert Regions.”◦ Several fault lines permeate SoCal.
San Andreas Fault (Major) San Jacinto, Puente Hills, Elsinore Fault zones.
At risk for:◦ Fires◦ Earthquakes◦ Other…
Disasters
Northridge, California 1994◦ 6.7 Magnitude
Baja, California, 2010◦ 7.2 Magnitude
Eureka, California, 2014◦ 6.9 Magnitude
Earthquakes
Cedar Fire, 2003◦ 280K acres burned◦ 15 deaths
Station Fire, 2009◦ 160K acres burned
2014…◦ Driest in 500 years◦ Increases risk of fires
Fires
Preparedness…
What is it?
What TV Wants You to Think
Having a plan. Having supplies. Having the training. Taking control of the
situation. Preparing for long
term.
What it really is…
Have an out of state contact. Have an escape plan from your house.
◦ Practice it. Find your gas, power and water shut off
valves Have a “Bug out bag.”
◦ Include a first aid kit, medications, food and water.
Cell Phone Alerts PRACTICE!
Practice makes perfect!
The Plan…
Water, 1 gallon/per person/day
Food, 3 days of non-perishable
Flashlight First aid kit Wrench or shut-off
valve tool Cell phone
w/charger
The Supplies… Medications Toiletries (moist
towelettes, plastic garbage bag and ties)
RadioNon-essential Something for
comfort Water purification
The “Bug-Out Bag”
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)◦ Doing the most good for
the most amount of people.
◦ 18 – 24 hour program.◦ Prepares you for various
disaster◦ Cultivates leadership and
disaster preparedness skills.
The Training…
For more information:http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams
Specific for LA County: http://www.cert-la.com
Appoint a leader. Impromptu Practice
regularly. Remind family of
rendezvous point. Implement plan. Be prepared.
Taking Control…
Preparedness isn’t limited to the home.◦ Vehicle preparedness
First aid kid, food, water, medications, “Bug-out Bag,” jumper cables and maps.
◦ Work Preparedness Starting to become more common: Business
Emergency Response Team Training. If it doesn’t exist at your work, apply CERT training to
your place of employment
Preparing for Long Term and Surprises…
Earthquakes and fires can detrimentally affect road ways—plan for this and have alternate routes to get home.
Rotate out medications in preparedness bags.◦ Doses change, medications expire, make sure to
modify as necessary. Personalize your gear.
◦ Every person and family is different, make sure you have things pertinent to you and your family to make a disaster the most “reasonable.”
Things to prepare for/Preparedness Pearls
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): ◦ http://www.cert-la.gov
Ready: ◦ http://www.ready.gov
LA County Emergency Preparedness and Response Program: ◦ http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/eprp/
FEMA IS-909: Community Preparedness:◦ http://
training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/courseOverview.aspx?code=is-909
Resources
Questions
?
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