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CERT
Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire And Rescue
Jeff Powell

Are you ready for the next disaster? We know the bay area is subject to earthquakes, and the 1989 Loma Prieta quake was not "the big one." We're also subject to fires. The 1985 Lexington fire burned for many days over 13,000 acres of land, destroyed dozens of buildings, and forced the evacuation of thousands of people. Mud slides sometimes close even our main roads for days at a time. Do you know what to do in the event of disasters like these and others?

The first thing to know is that your first responders will be doing their utmost to save lives and property. Sheriff's deputies, CAL FIRE and Santa Clara County fire personnel, and your volunteer fire fighters will respond as quickly as they can to as many incidents as they can. But the second thing to know is that despite their best efforts there aren't enough first responders to handle everything a major disaster will send our way. And even if they're available, will the phones work to allow a 911 call? Will the roads be passable? Will our mountain community be the first priority for thinly stretched emergency services in either Santa Clara or Santa Cruz counties? What will you do until organized help arrives?

That's where CERT comes in, and where you can help. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. CERT members are trained in basic disaster preparedness so they can take care of themselves and their neighbors until help arrives, and so they are less likely to become additional disaster victims in the process.

Loma Prieta Volunteer Fire & Rescue will be offering CERT training to residents of our mountain community, free of charge, on the first three Saturdays of November. The training covers basic disaster response skills like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. With these skills, you'll be better prepared for a disaster, and be able to assist your family, friends, and neighbors should it be necessary.

Those of us living in the Santa Cruz mountains come to appreciate the unique life we have here. We're an isolated rural area, but yet we're still close to town. We have a thriving community with groups and activities that most suburbs only dream about, and yet we have the space to be ourselves. This is your chance to help protect and preserve the unique place we call home.

Mark your calendars for November 3, 10, and 17. Class size is limited to 24 people, so sign up early. To register, or for more information about CERT training, email cert@lomaprietafire.org or contact Lance Louge'e at 408-353-5300. For more information about CERT itself, you can visit the CERT website at: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/