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December 4, 2006
(Article provided by Dr. Cliff
Cheng)
Congratulations are in order! On Nov.
29, 2006, Tract 7260 residents: Deborah Boynton, Jenny & Mel
Bresee, Joyce Kitchner, Tim Lavove, Susan & Don Silver,
graduated from the LA Fire Department’s Community Emergency
Response Team (CERT) program. 7/8 Tract 7260 members who
took the class graduated! The typical graduation rate is ¼
to 1/3 of the class. The eighth person has committed to
finishing in the upcoming class. The commitment to
preparedness reflects the good leadership of Tract 7260.
Tract 7260 residents and others learned
disaster preparedness. The course that teaches very
practical skills one needs after a disaster. The course
covers: earthquake preparedness, light firefighting, triage,
first aid, light excavation, disaster psychology, rescue
team organization and management.
The graduation speaker Battalion Chief
Ralph Rameriez who praised class members for taking the
class and their willingness to help their neighbors in times
of disaster. In the days after the class, Dr. Cliff Cheng,
Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Ambassador, had
conversations about preparedness with Tract 7260 graduates
and others. He has summarized advise on next steps to take
on his blog:
www.disasterprep.livejournal.com, use arrow keys to go
to : Block by Block Preparedness. For more information on
this graduating class see:
www.CERTsponsor.s5.com, click on 2006 Fall, CERT,
Cheviot Rec Center.
In a major disaster LA Fire Department
and LAPD will be overwhelmed and unable to respond to almost
all calls for help. Even if they could respond, we may not
be reachable for the roads may be blocked or buckled with
fallen power lines and trees. Freeway bridges may be
collapsed. Just like after Hurricane Katrina, help is not
coming! It behooves us not only to prepare ourselves and
our families but to encourage our neighbors to do likewise.
It may be them whom we need if we are trapped beneath a
collapsed building.
You are welcome to attend a
FREE disaster preparedness class taught by a LA
Fire Firefighter over 7 consecutive Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. to
9:30 p.m., Mar. 14, 21, 28, Apr. 4, 11, 18, 25, May 2,
2007. The class will be held at the Cheviot Recreation
Center 2551 Motor Ave. LA CA 90064, Club room; cross Pico,
golf course, across the street from 20th Century
Fox Studios. LA City Councilman Jack Weiss has been invited
as graduation speaker.
Please RSVP Dr. Cliff Cheng, KI6CM,
Neighborhood Disaster Preparedness Ambassador,
CERTsponsor@gmail.com, (310) 485-0324. For more
information see:
www.CERTsponsor.s5.com,
http://nerp.myeweb.com.
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