Tag: CERT

MALIBU—On Tuesday, September 1, the city of Malibu announced to prepare for wildfire season, and as part of National Preparedness Month in September, the city will hold weekly Disaster Notification drills, share preparedness tips on social media, offer a CERT training course, and host the Safety Resource Fair to empower community members to be part of achieving community-wide disaster preparedness in Malibu.

“National Preparedness Month is the perfect time to take action to be ready for wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and any other disaster that may strike,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein. “The City, community members, and first responders have a shared responsibility for achieving community-wide preparedness and resilience.”

During Preparedness Month, Malibu will send a weekly test message using the Everbridge Disaster Notification System, which the city has been using for several years for the most serious emergencies that threaten lives and properties and require evacuations. Each Thursday at 5 p.m., the city will send a test message to one of Malibu’s four Evacuation Zones. Look up your Evacuation Zone: https://www.MalibuCity.org/evac

·     Thursday, September 3, 5 p.m. – Evacuation Zone MAL-C111

·     Thursday, September 10, 5 p.m. – Evacuation Zone MAL-C112

·     Thursday, September 17, 5 p.m. – Evacuation Zone MAL-C113

·     Thursday, September 24, 5 p.m. – Evacuation Zone MAL-C114

Most landlines and cell phone numbers with Malibu addresses are automatically entered into the system. Residents and businesses are asked to visit the Everbridge portal at www.MalibuCity.org/DisasterNotifications, create a profile, and add additional contact information such as street addresses or secondary phone numbers. For assistance with Everbridge contact the Public Safety Department at PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org.

Anyone who does not receive a test message during Preparedness Month should contact the Public Safety Department at PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org.

All community members are asked to sign up for the city’s free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to learn basic emergency skills so they can help themselves, their families and their neighbors during a disaster. The nationally recognized program teaches basic first aid, fire suppression, search and rescue, and other skills that can be critical during disasters when professional first responders may be delayed or overwhelmed. The series of six classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings September 22 through October 8, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Malibu Library. Learn more and sign up at: www.MalibuCity.org/CERT.

The city of Malibu’s Safety Resource Fair is Saturday, September 26, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Malibu City Halll to learn how to prepare one’s family, home, neighborhood or business for wildfires, earthquakes, floods, and other disasters.

Highlights include:

·     Brush clearance and home hardening information

·     Volunteer opportunities

·     Emergency services and supplies vendors

·     Meet your City Public Safety Department staff, local law enforcement officers and the CERT Malibu Team

·     Free raffle with great prizes

·     Fire extinguisher training

All event details are posted at: www.MalibuCity.org/safetyfair.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, August 3, the city of West Hollywood announced that it is alerting the public about the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Community Emergency Response Team (“CERT”) is presenting CERT Training.

West Hollywood CERT Training is free and will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, September 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, and 22, at Plummer Park’s Great Hall, located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard. Space is limited and expected to fill quickly.

Participants must register in advance and attend all sessions to receive a certificate of completion. To register for CERT Training visit the LA County Fire Department CERT training website.

Following a disaster, police, fire, and medical professionals may not be able to meet the immediate demand for emergency medical attention. Residents and neighbors may need to rely upon one another to help with immediate life-saving needs. CERT Training was developed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide basic fire safety and life-saving skills.

CERT Training participants will learn valuable survival skills, including disaster preparedness, terrorism, disaster fire suppression, disaster psychology, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, and drill simulation can be vital in the immediate aftermath of a major disaster.

For more information contact the city’s Public Safety Division at (323) 848-6414 or at safety@weho.org. For people who are Deaf or hard of hearing dial 711 or 1-800-735-2929 (TTY) or 1-800-735-2922 (voice) for California Relay Service (CRS) assistance.

By Danny Jones

WEST HOLLYWOOD—The city of West Hollywood is alerting the public that the County of Los Angeles Fire Department is proud to present this training to the public.

Following a major disaster, police, fire and medical professionals may not be able to fully meet the demand. People will have to rely on each other to meet the immediate lifesaving and life sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from the main roads for a period of time.

The County of Los Angeles Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training was developed through FEMA to provide basic fire safety and lifesaving skills.

There is no charge for CERT classes. Participants must attend all sessions to receive a certificate of completion. Registration will be opening soon and individuals can contact
CERT@fire.lacounty.gov.

The class will be held at:

Plummer Park – Great Hall Room
7377 Santa Monica Blvd.,
West Hollywood, CA 90046

The training course will be held in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.

-Tuesday, September 1, 2026 & Thursday, September 3, 2026

-Tuesday, September 8, 2026 & Thursday, September 10, 2026

-Tuesday, September 15, 2026 & Thursday, September 17, 2025

-Tuesday, September 22, 2026

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is preparing for individuals to sign up now for Malibu’s FREE Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course starting February 24 at the Malibu City Hall. Learn how to prepare for wildfires, earthquakes & other disasters.

As part of its ongoing efforts toward community-wide preparedness, Malibu is offering the next round of the highly popular CERT training. The free series of six classes will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Malibu City Hall, starting on February 24 through March 12, from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m., with the Course Review & Final Drill on Saturday, March 14, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

The highly acclaimed free program training program is administered by the city of Malibu and other public safety agencies across the country, and empowers community members to help themselves and their neighbors during disasters.

Through hands-on training, participants learn the most up-to-date information on basic disaster preparedness, the use of a fire extinguisher, disaster medical care, first aid, search and rescue, disaster psychology, and neighborhood team building.

For more details and to sign up, visit www.MalibuCity.org/CERT or email PublicSafety@malibucity.org.

 

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on June 29 that a total of 15 community members became graduates of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

The students recently completed the 21-hour CERT training course hosted by the Malibu CERT Team in conjunction with the City’s Public Safety Department.

CERT is an acclaimed, nationwide program that empowers community members to help themselves and their neighbors during disasters. Volunteers are trained in basic first aid, fire suppression, and search and rescue so that they can provide emergency assistance to their neighbors.

According to the city of Malibu website, following a major disaster, professional first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to fully meet the demand for services. Factors such as communications failures, road blockages, and the number of victims, may prevent people from accessing the emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice when 911 is called.

Individuals will need to rely on each other to meet immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining needs, particularly in isolated neighborhoods that may be cut off from main roads for a period of time.

The CERT program was developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department to provide basic training in safety and lifesaving skills to the general public. It has since been adopted and enhanced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Fire Academy. The course is now recognized nationwide, and over 50,000 citizens have been trained to date.

CERT classes contain the following modules:

-Disaster Preparedness
-Team Organization
-Medical Class #1
-Medical Class #2
-Disaster Psychology
-Fire Safety and Utility Controls
-Light Search and Rescue Operations
-Terrorism and CERT
-Course Review and Disaster Simulation Drill

To learn more visit: www.MalibuCity.org/CERT.

By Danny Jones

BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills is celebrating the upcoming 2025 Annual Day in the Park Emergency Preparedness Fair hosted by Just in Case BH. The event will be held on Sunday, June 8.

It will be held from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Roxbury Memorial Park. There will be food, games, music, and other fun. The entire family is invited to attend and enjoy free 10-minute mini-classes on:

-CPR Basics
-Fire Extinguisher Training (P.A.S.S.)
-First Aid Essentials
-Emergency Kit Assembly
-Children’s Car Seat Checkpoint

There will be hands-on learning, expert guidance, for the community.

Just in Case BH helps to facilitate a neighborhood of trained CERTs (Community Emergency Response Team) and facilitates access to local doctors, basic medical supplies, and central meeting locations. The program will supply block captains with a way to communicate during power and internet outages.

The CERT program educates volunteers about emergency and disaster preparedness for different hazards that may occur and impact their area and trains them in basic emergency and disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, medical operations, and terrorism.

For more details visit www.beverlyhills.org/justincasebh.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu reported on its Facebook page on September 4 that it’s Community Emergency Response Team training scheduled September 5 through October 17 at Malibu City Hall has been cancelled due to lack of enrollment.

CERT Training involves providing volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live. According to the FEMA website:

CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as:

Fire safety
Light search and rescue
Team organization
Disaster medical operations

The CERT program offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on complex tasks.

The CERT Basic Training includes research-validated guidance for CERT programs to teach members what to do before, during and after the hazards their communities may face.

The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs.

CERT became a national program in 1993 and there are now programs in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. Each is unique to its community, and all are essential to building a Culture of Preparedness in the United States.

A new CERT training will be offered soon, to be announced on the website & social media. For more details visit: www.MalibuCity.org/CERT.

By Trevor

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is offering the next round of the highly popular Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. The series of seven classes will be held Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., April 13 through May 25 in the Multipurpose Room at Malibu City Hall located at 23825 Stuart Ranch Road.

“Malibu is paradise, but we are vulnerable to all kinds of disasters, from wildfires to earthquakes and landslides, so it’s up to every one of us to be prepared to help ourselves, our families and our community,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein. “CERT training is one of the best ways to prepare for wildfires and other disasters, and helps us be more resilient as individuals and as a community.”

According to a news release from the city of Malibu website, “CERT is a highly-acclaimed, nationwide program that empowers community members to help themselves and their neighbors during disasters.”

Volunteers are trained on basic first aid, fire suppression, and search and rescue to be able to provide emergency assistance to their neighbors.

CERT volunteers assist the city of Malibu to prepare and respond to disasters. During the Woolsey Fire, Malibu CERT volunteers contributed over 300 hours of service to the emergency response by distributing food and medical supplies, conducting wellness checks, assisting with evacuations, and administering basic first aid.

In 2017, the Malibu City Council adopted the official CERT Program Guidelines, an important step in formally incorporating the program and the trained CERT volunteers into the City’s Emergency Management System.

Malibu’s CERT Team members must complete Federal Emergency Manager Agency (FEMA) trainings, serve at least 30 volunteer hours per year, attend regular meetings and drills, and become registered as Disaster Service Workers.

For more details about the CERT program, or to sign up, visit www.MalibuCity.org/CERT or call Public Safety Liaison Luis Flores at 310-456-2489, ext. 236, or email publicsafety@malibucity.org.