It’s impossible to predict when a disaster will strike – whether natural or an act of terror. In catastrophic events, emergency responders are likely to secure infrastructure and may tend to more dense populations first. As a result, View Park residents are actively preparing to be self-sufficient for approximately 72 hours – the likely timeframe before outside help is likely to arrive. Preparation activities include search and rescue in an urban residential area, administering first aid, suppressing small fires, and effectively organizing resources and manpower. Incident Commander Ramona LaFrance notes, “It is time for all of us to unite with our neighbors and prepare for any form of disaster. Typically, when someone is under stress, their subconscious relies upon training to help them successfully manage the situation. Therefore, it’s important for the community to have the proper training to reference in times of duress.”
The Earthquake Simulation is open to View Park residents and all Angelenos interested in emergency preparedness.
For more information, please contact Ramona LaFrance at 323.308.0693
About View Park-Windsor Hills, California
Nestled near the Baldwin Hills in unincorporated Los Angeles County, View Park-Windsor Hills is a predominantly African-American community home to approximately 11,000 residents.
About the CERT Program
The CERT Program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, and light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. (http://fire.lacounty.gov/
