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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