Oak Park supplied with emergency cache

Trailer near Station 36


JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PREPARED- Public safety employees, community leaders and members of the Oak Park Community Emergency Response Team unveil a new supply trailer located at the fire station on Deerhill Road

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers PREPARED- Public safety employees, community leaders and members of the Oak Park Community Emergency Response Team unveil a new supply trailer located at the fire station on Deerhill Road


To help Oak Park be better prepared in the event of a disaster, a trailerful of emergency supplies has been delivered to the community’s fire station on Deerhill Road. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil the 12by6foot trailer took place April 28 at Fire Station 36.

The facility is packed with emergency items such as first aid supplies for treating trauma, burns and other injuries. It also contains flashlights, batteries, sheltering equipment and nonperishable food and water.

Members of Oak Park’s Community Emergency Response Team and the Thousand Oaks Disaster Assistance Response Team, along with Dan Wall of the county Department of Health painted the inside of the trailer, installed shelving and stocked the supplies.

The Oak Park CERT team will be responsible for maintaining the facility and its contents.

“Because emergency personnel can’t be everywhere if a major disaster strikes, having trained citizens and a local supply of emergency gear can be a lifeline in a major disaster” said Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who oversees Oak Park.

Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council Vice Chair Mike Paule expressed appreciation to Parks for obtaining the funding. The trailer was partially funded through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

“In addition to the potential for earthquakes, we live in an area prone to wildfires. . . . Having emergency supplies located within the community, along with our dedicated, trained community emergency response teams, helps us be self-sufficient and serves our local residents,” Paule said.

Diane Starzak, who heads the Oak Park CERT team, stressed that both volunteers and the trailer supplies are limited to basic first aid care. She encourages all residents to undergo CPR and first aid certification and CERT training, and to store emergency supplies in their homes.

“No governmental or volunteer group can provide for the basic needs of a community. Everyone has the responsibility of being as selfsufficient as possible,” Starzak said.

To sign up for free CERT training, contact Starzak at distarzak@sbcglobal.net.

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