Tag: Community Emergency Response Team

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

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

MALIBU—On Tuesday, August 20, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that as part of its ongoing efforts toward community-wide preparedness, the city is offering the next round of the highly popular Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.

The series of seven classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., September 5 through October 17 at Malibu City Hall.

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

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 or call 310-456-2489, ext. 237.

By Trevor