Westwood South

 Westwood South of

Santa Monica Blvd.
Homeowners Association

Disaster Preparedness

Good community organization is one important element of coping with disasters and emergency situations.  We know that in the event of a major "event" it is likely that an official response and/or support will not be available for a number of days.  We need to be prepared, not only in our own homes, but across the community. 

We want to be certain to have at least one block captain for each block in our community so that contact people can be reached if and when needed.    Know your block captain!   Hopefully, the captain will be able to prepare and maintain a current list of residents on the block, people in need of special assistance, etc. 

If your block does not have a captain or co-captains, consider volunteering to become your block contact person.   Contact Margaret Healy (thehealyfamily1@verizon.net) or Pat Tobias:  (pattobias@msn.com) .  Pat and Margaret can also tell you who your block captain is.

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CERT NEWS

ENROLL IN THE NEXT LAFD CERT EMERGENCY

RESPONSE TRAINING!                               

The next series of CERT CLASSES begins on Jan. 11, 7 pm (to 9:30 pm) and will

continue on Wednesday evenings through Feb. 22nd.  This class meets at the

LAFD station at Olympic and Purdue, just west of Sawtelle and the 405.  If you

cannot attend all of the sessions, you may attend a session in another group to

make up any missed classes.  Likewise, if you have taken a CERT class but need

to make up any classes, you may do so in this series.

DATES:  1/11, 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22 - Wednesdays

TIME: 7PM ‐ 9:30PM

TEAM NAME: BATTALION 9 CERT

CONTACT NAME: FIREFIGHTER MASON

CONTACT PHONE: 818.756.9674

TRAINING RM: COMMUNITY ROOM IN THE REAR OF STATION

ADDRESS: 11505 OLYMPIC BL., LOS ANGELES, CA 90025

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DATES:  1/12, 1/19, 1/36, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23 - Thursday mornings
TIME:  9:00 am -11:30 am
LOCATION:  UCLA OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE #1/7
Rieber Hall Fireside Lounge,  310 De Neve Dr., Los Angeles 90024
CONTACT:    Firefighter Butler - 818-756-9674

WHEN THE WIND IS STRONGLY BLOWING......

DWP strongly encourages the public to be vigilant and cautious to stay safe during

wind storms. Stay away from any downed power lines and poles as well as

downed trees and limbs, and protect children home from the

same. Beware of traffic signals that may be affected by power outage and

proceed with extreme caution. Allow access for uniformed LADWP crews, all of

whom carry  Department-issued identification cards, so they may service

infrastructure in need of repair. 

·                                 Stay calm.

·                                 Have a flashlight and extra batteries nearby. Don’t use candles in a power

      outage.

·                                 Turn off lights but leave one light turned on so you will know when your

      service is restored.

·                                 Turn off and unplug appliances and other electrical equipment. Unplug

      heat-producing items like irons and space heaters. This helps prevent circuit

      overloading, which could delay restoration of service.

·                                 Call us and report your outage at 1-800-DIAL DWP (1-800-342-5397). 

      IF YOU ENCOUNTER A DOWNED POWER LINE:

·                                 Report any downed power lines immediately by calling the LADWP at

      1-800-DIAL-DWP (1-800-342-5397). If you or someone else is in danger, call 911.

·                                 Do not touch a downed or dangling wire or anyone or anything in

      contact with it. Always assume a downed line is still energized.

·                                 If a power line falls on your car, stay in the car and wait for help. If you

      must get out, make sure you do not touch the metal parts of the car and the

      ground at the same time. The safest exit method is to open the door, stand on the

      door sill and jump free without touching the car.

·                                 Stay away from metal fences, such as chain link fence, as there may be

      a power line down and touching the fence somewhere beyond your sight.

·                                 If there is damage to the connection from the power pole to your house,

      you should go to the electrical box and turn off the main switch or shut off the f

      use switch. Again, always assume electric lines are live.

·                                 In case of an electrical emergency, stay calm and think before you act.

      Don't become a victim while trying to help others. Call 911.

·                                 If someone is shocked or not breathing, apply cardio-pulmonary

      resuscitation (CPR.) Then cover the victim with a blanket, keep their head low and

      get medical attention.

      ADVICE FROM THE LAFD:

With the resumption of seasonal winds, the Los Angeles Fire Department reminds Southern Californian's to use caution at home, in the workplace and on the road.

Strong winds compound wildfire danger. We therefore ask residents - especially those in foothill and wildland communities, to use caution with flame, heat and spark producing equipment, including vehicles, barbecues and power tools.

Those living near flammable vegetation should remain vigilant to the possibility of brush or structure fires, and report nearby smoke and flames immediately to 9-1-1.

Additional preparation, such as a fire safety survey of your property and a review of household emergency and neighborhood evacuation plans can help remove the apprehension that many of us feel when winds begin to blow.

With the possibility of downed power lines causing local power outages, drivers should use extreme caution when approaching darkened traffic signals. Whether driving on a main thoroughfare or a side street, motorists should treat all non-functioning traffic signals as a four way stop.

If you encounter downed wires, assume them to be energized and potentially lethal. Be careful that such wires haven't electrically charged puddles of water, chain link fences or other conductive sources.

In many circumstances, but especially during high winds, firefighters discourage the use of candles, lighters, fire pits and fuel-powered lanterns.

Now is a good time to fully charge your cell phone, check your flashlights, portable radios and spare batteries. Place these items strategically, and make sure others know how to find them. Before you activate a portable generator, make certain you know how to use a generator legally and safely.

And finally, please take a moment now to secure household items, such as outdoor furniture, that could cause harm or damage if catapulted by a wind gust, and to remove flammable items from around your home.

When outdoors, be careful for toppling trees, wind-blown debris or high profile vehicles buffeted by turbulent wind. If you must get behind the wheel, Los Angeles Firefighters remind you: "Heads Up, Easy on the Throttle and Expect the Unexpected!"

WSSM Residents are invited to sign up for future CERT Trainings

What is CERT?  The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed

to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your

neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations

where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a

difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training,

one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently

without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training,

citizens learn to:

• manage utilities and put out small fires,
  
• treat the three medical killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock,
  
• provide basic medical aid,
  
• search for and rescue victims safely,
  
• organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective,
  
• and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.

CERT members receive 17 ½ hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial

training. The 7-week course is followed by full-day biannual refresher drills,

and an opportunity to assist the LAFD at local incidents.

CERT is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or

over.

Classes are taught mornings, afternoons and evenings continually throughout

the year in locations all over Los Angeles.

The current schedule is always available on the internet at

www.cert-la.com/basic. You can search to find a class in your Battalion or

Council District or classes that begin on a certain weekday. To register for a

class, call the contact person to verify the date, time and location of the class.

If the contact says you can't attend for any reason, send an email to

cert-la@usa.net immediately.  If you miss a class, you can go to any other

location to make it up. When you arrive at the make-up session, inform the

instructor that you are making up a class.

If you don't see a class near you, call the LAFD CERT Unit at 818-756-9674 or

send an email and give them your name, phone number, zip code and

community name. When a class is scheduled in your area, they will contact you.

If you would like to sign up to participate in a future WSSM sponsored CERT

training, or for more information, contact the WSSM Neighborhood Watch /

Disaster Preparedness Coordinators:  Margaret Healy or Pat Tobias c/o WSSM:

wssmhoa@gmail.com

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RECENT GRADUATES OF THE 
WSSM-SPONSORED CERT TRAINING THAT BEGAN MARCH 10TH.  
WE THANK YOU FOR INVESTING YOUR TIME IN THIS IMPORTANT PROGRAM.

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405 Freeway Closure update and

emergency contact info is posted on the

TRANSPORTATION PAGE of this website!

 CERT CLASSES AT UCLA OPEN TO PUBLIC FOR SIGN UPS

UCLA has CERT classes that are conducted on the UCLA campus. 

The classes are open to anyone on campus and the public pending space in

the room.  People are also welcome to make up missed lessons or even take

the course again.  

Check the CERT website for current classes.

Mike Stajura
CERT at UCLA  ---<-cert@ucla.edu
Mike Stajura, M.P.P., M.P.H.

Doctoral Student
Department of Community
 Health Sciences

City of L.A. CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM NOW RECRUITING! 

Crisis Response Team (CRT) members are community volunteers who respond to traumatic incidents and provide immediate on-scene crisis intervention to victims and their families affected by a death, a violent crime or other traumatic incidents.   These include homicides, suicides, serious traffic accidents, natural deaths and multi-casualty incidents. 

The CRT program is managed by the Mayor's Office of Homeland Security & Public Safety.

Topics  covered in CRT trainings include:

*Police & Fire on Scene Protocol w/ Police Detectives & Fire Personnel.

*Hospital Emergency Rooms Environment w/ E.R. Social Workers.

*Victims of Crime Programs with City & County Victim Assistance Programs and the County Coroner.

*Suicide Aftermath Support w/ Suicide Prevention Center.

*The Grief Process in Adults and Children w/County Dept. Mental & LAUSD
Mental Health
- Traumatization & Crisis Intervention Principles and Skills.

*Skillful Listening & Sacred Silence w/ Skilled Experts.

*Diverse Populations: Working with the Elderly and People with Disabilities.

*Cultural & Religious Diversity.

*Taking Care of Yourself/Secondary Traumatization w/ CRT Mental Health.

If you would like additional information or have an interest in participating in a future training for CRT volunteers, contact  Jeffrey Zimerman, CRT manager at lacrt@lacity.org.   

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Take time to visit these resources on earthquake preparation and safety .  A 2008 study has forecast a 99.7% chance of an earthquake the size of the Northridge Earthquake or larger anytime during the next 30 years.  The recent earthquake in Japan should serve as a reminder to us all of the potential for disaster and the need for good preparation.

Visit http://www.earthquakecountry.info/roots/seven_steps.html for tips on how to prepare, protect, and recover.

The safest thing to do during an earthquake is "Drop, Cover, and Hold On," as described at http://www.earthquakecountry.info/dropcoverholdon.

For information about how to create a disaster supplies kit, with suggestions for what to include for pet owners, please visit

http://www.scec.org/education/public/espfocus/Apr_06.pdf.

For information about the annual SHAKEOUT preparation drill, visit the website located at:  www.shakeout.org

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