CERT Trainers Emphasize Individual Responsibility in a Disaster

Three certified trainers of Clayton's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) gave a disaster preparedness presentation to about 10 people at the Clayton Community Library last Wednesday. 

Rich Veal, a CERT trainer and former San Francisco Fireman, referenced a national survey that said 70 percent of Americans expect that their neighbors and the Government will take care of them during an emergency. Veal told the audiance they taken the first step to becoming part of the 30 pecent that will be prepared.

The meeting's objectives were to learn the three types of hazards the community is vulnerable to and to identify the preparedness steps. Man-made disasters (fires, refinery explosions, terrorist attacks) and technological disasters (computer, or utility failures) were discussed but the third, natural disasters and specifically earthquakes were the focus of the meeting.

CERT trainer Susan Dell 'Isola noted that over the last 50 years, there have been 49 declared natural disasters in the Bay Area.

Dell 'Isola,said The United States Geological Society estimates a 62 percent chance of a magnitude 6.7 or larger earthquake in the Bay Area in the near future.

Since Clayton is situated between two earthquake faults — the Marsh Creek-Greenville and the Concord faults — earthquake preparedness was discussed at length.

 These basic steps were discussed to be prepared for an earthquake:

•  Develop disaster kits for the home, office and car. Ideas were presented such as keeping a flashlight and extra shoes under the bed.
• Identify potential hazards and reduce them: anchor heavy furniture, strap water heaters and other appliances, secure cabinet doors with childproof fasteners and locate and label gas, electricity and water shutoffs.
• Bolt older homes to the foundations, strap propane tanks and ask a professional to check roof connectors, chimneys, etc.
• Move beds away from windows that could break
• Develop a 'ocation to reunite with family members and assign an out-of-state family contact.
• Keep emergency supplies on hand: food, water, first-aid and grooming supplies like toothpaste.
• Prepare survival kits for the car, home, office/workplace and for pets.

CERT trainers said food and water should be dated and rotated every six months, stored in a cool, dark places preferably in airtight or tightly sealed plastic or metal containers. If need be, have some way to cook food such as a BBQ grill.

Helpful hints for water were: have one gallon per person, per day for five to seven days and change it every six months, never drink swimming pool, but the water in a home’s water heater is safe to drink because it's rotated and heated to high temperatures.

 The following guidelines were announced for different situations during an earthquake:

1. If indoors, stay there. Remain under a desk or a strong structure and keep away from windows.
2. If outdoors, find a spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, power lines and overpasses.
3. If in a vehicle, drive to a clear spot and stop.

After an earthquake, CERT trainers told the attendees to extinguish small fires, clean up spills, inspect the home for damage, help neighbors, tune to the Emergency Alert System (740 AM) and to expect "aftershocks."

Visual aids were presented during the meeting, such as a combination flashlight/radio that is powered by a string wind-up instead of batteries. Neal said to check novelty stores like Brookstone, hardware stores like ACE, Home Depot  and OSH, or websites like www.beprepared.com or www.yoursafetyplace.com for survival items.

Some audience members at the CERT presentation were asked what they valued most about the meeting.

Jie Wang, whose family has lived in the area for four years, said the meeting enlightened him on things he hadn't thought about before such the idea about pet kits and to search the websites on the handouts for the Coast Guard survival food, which could last five years.

"(I appreciate) the (CERT) handouts and check lists telling you exactly what have in the house, the car and outside," Wang said.

Clayton citizens interested in becoming CERT members should attend the weekly CERT courses starting April 6. More information can be found about the classes on the CERT Web site.

Correction: In an earlier version of this article, information about Richard Veal was incorrect. Also, some of Veal's information given to the audiance was reported incorectly. Clayton Patch regrets the errors.