Calabasas works to prevent disaster chaos

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Calabasas Emergency Response Program (CERP) is redoubling its efforts to prepare for a natural or terrorist disaster.

The recent chaos in New Orleans demonstrated the importance of preparing residents to take care of themselves and arming CERP volunteers with the communications network and basic first aid supplies necessary to assist their neighborhoods.

City officials and volunteers are mobilizing on several fronts to boost their preparation.

CERP needs more trained volunteers and block captains, said Debbie Larson, city risk management analyst. She announced a two-day training session for new volunteers scheduled from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat., Sept. 24 and Oct. 8 at Calabasas City Hall.

The second training session will include first aid and CPR certification. The sessions will teach residents to prepare their own families and assist neighbors during a crisis. “The number one thing we’re saying is get your own family prepared,” Larson said. “Have 72 hours to 10 days worth of water, food, medicine, pet and baby supplies on hand and emergency tools available.”

CERP is also working to improve its communications system.

“Time after time, after Katrina, we heard victims say they didn’t know where to go, what to do,” said one CERP volunteer. “With our system of radios and bullhorns, CERP volunteers can keep their neighborhoods informed and can call for emergency relief.”

Every Saturday morning in Calabasas, CERP sector leaders test the city’s emergency radio network. It takes just 10 minutes but insures the system of shortwave radios is in working condition in case local telephone systems go down. The radios connect the various sections of Calabasas to the city’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) which is in contact with Lost Hills Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles County EOC. Chief Engineer Roy LaViolette recently received a new set of radios and is in the process of setting them up for service.

Calabasas already has five first aid caches in place to provide doctors and trained CERP volunteers with the necessary supplies in case of a disaster. Dr. Albert Katz, head of the CERP volunteer physicians, is conducting an inventory of the caches to see what needs to be replaced or added.

Larson has just added 60-gal

lon water barrels to each cache. Larson will also order two more caches to be placed at a new location in Gates Canyon Park and to enlarge an existing supply at Calabasas High School.

The other caches are at Grape Arbor Park, De Anza Park, Calabasas Tennis and Swim Club and Calabasas Hills Park. CERP block captains in sector three will soon be going door-todoor to introduce themselves and to hand out the city’s disaster preparation manual.

People interested in joining the Calabasas emergency team should call Debbie Larson at (818) 8784225. It’s not too late to sign up for Saturday’s class, Larson said.