In the event of a quake, CERT training could be the difference
By Sylvie Belmond belmond@theacorn.com

Seismic activity can never be predicted with certainty, but experts at the United States Geological Survey have estimated there is a nearly 50 percent chance that a 7.2 magnitude earthquake or larger will strike Southern California in the next 30 years.

According to USGS research, a quake of that size would shut down roadways and severely disrupt electricity, gas, water and phone services, forcing businesses to close and residents to fend for themselves for several days as overwhelmed first responders scramble to deal with the catastrophe.

For this reason, agencies like the USGS and the Governor's Office of Emergency Services are asking that residents do all they can to be prepared- not only to save themselves and their families, but their neighbors as well.

"Ninety five percent of all earthquake victims are rescued by other victims, so it's likely that in a disaster you will be rescued by your neighbors," said Dale Cox, project manager for the USGS' 2008 ShakeOut scenario.

The scenario, set to happen in mid-November, will simulate the effects of a 7.8 magnitude rupture of the San Andreas Fault in order to test the abilities of emergency responders and encourage readiness at the grassroots level.

In addition to storing food, water and other necessities, people should make sure they have leather gloves, a crowbar and at least one fire extinguisher, Cox said.

"All family members should know how to use these tools and what to do in an emergency," he said.

Most Ventura County cities offer free disaster-preparedness classes to enable residents to help themselves and their neighbors.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes, taught by the Ventura County Fire Department, provide basic training in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical services, light search and rescue, team organization, and protection against terrorist threats.

The philosophy of CERT is to teach people to respond and react appropriately so they can help without getting in harm's way, said Theresa Adams, coordinator for the Simi Valley CERT program.

About 700 people have completed the CERT course in Simi Valley since it was created shortly after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, she said.

"The more people train, the lighter our load will be in the first few hours after a disaster," Adams said.

Unprompted volunteers, not firefighters or police, carried out most rescues after the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan that measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, she said.

Since large earthquakes can hit anytime, people also need to take precautions in the work place.

"They should be aware of where things are and how to help each other and themselves at work," Adams said.

The CERT program was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. The Federal Emergency Management Agency now uses the program as a national model for other communities.

The Simi classes are offered three times a year. The next class will start on Sept. 10 and it will finish in time for the ShakeOut exercise, Adams said.

"Citizens will be ready to understand and respond to the messages from the USGS and the California Earthquake Center during the November event," she said.

The city will also conduct a functional exercise on Nov. 13 to test the Emergency Operation Center's ability to handle a large quake.

"Command and field operations people will take information provided by the USGS, make decisions, do research and build a plan to further recovery goals in Simi Valley," Adams explained. But equipment won't be moved out into the field as part of the exercise, she said.

The earthquake simulation and preparations for it should encourage residents to check their own emergency supplies to ensure that they are prepared for emergencies, Adams said.

The Great Southern California ShakeOut begins Nov. 12. It is a week of special events featuring the largest earthquake drill in U.S. history, organized to inspire Southern Californians to get ready for big earthquakes. Please visit www.shakeout.org for more information.