Registration Open for Emergency Response Training

Shortly after the Northridge earthquake struck Jan. 17, 1994, at 4:30 a.m., I joined some of my Norma Triangle neighbors in the street, flashlight in hand. We made sure everyone was OK but were otherwise befuddled about what more we could do, and gradually drifted back to our homes to check for damage.

Fortunately, I found only superficial cracks in the 1931-built house I’d purchased only weeks earlier. I quickly filled jugs at the sink, thinking I might need them if the water supply was cut off or tainted. But finding and shutting off my gas meter in case of a leak was more of a challenge. It turned out to be on a neighbor’s property, the result of crude subdivision decades back. I lit an old can of Sterno to boil a cup of water for coffee, but had no other means of cooking.

When the rubble had settled in other parts of the city, and the shocking news came in detailing the scope of the damage and death, many of us realized just how poorly prepared we’d been. Today, with more potential disasters looming and public resources strained, we’ll have to rely on one another more than ever to get through the worst crises.

With that in mind, the city of West Hollywood has joined the County of Los Angeles Fire Department to offer free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for individuals 18 and over who might be needed to augment police, fire and medical personnel in a widespread disaster. Developed in compliance with the FEMA-based 24-hour course curriculum, the CERT program provides basic training in safety and life saving skills for the general public.  Enrollment has just opened, with training to begin in on March 5.

The West Hollywood program will be presented in three sessions, to be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 5, focusing on disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression and terrorism; March 12, dealing with disaster medical operations; and March 19, learning about light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, and a review and simulation.

Enrollment is limited to 40 participants. Those who complete the course will receive a certificate of achievement.

If you’re interested in signing up, contact Shirley Berry at 323-848-6580 or Maria Grycan, L.A. County Fire Department community services representative, at 310-456-7923.