City of Simi Valley Office of Emergency Services would like to give residents an “Early Warning” that April is Earthquake Preparedness Month.
Why the month of April? It was April 18, 1906 when the historic 8.3 magnitude earthquake struck San Francisco. The earthquake was the most-destructive in California’s history. California remains vulnerable to a massive earthquake. Each year, during the month of April we encourage our residents to take steps towards becoming better prepared. Steps as simple as assembling an emergency kit, developing a family emergency plan, learning the proper way to shut off utilities at home or work, knowing how and where to receive emergency information, can really make a difference! To learn more about how to prepare for an earthquake, FEMA’s “Ready” website: www.ready.gov/earthquakes is loaded with information, tips, and videos for individuals, families, pets, schools, businesses, etc.
We also e ncourage residents to enroll in training that focuses on emergency preparedness. One course offered here in Simi is the “Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Academy”. CERT is the “model citizen preparedness training” curriculum in the nation. In Simi Valley, this curriculum is presented in an academy format comprised of lecture, hands-on practice, PowerPoint presentations, and a skills review during a disaster scenario.
In the CERT Academy, you’ll learn; basic response skills, such as extinguishing small fires; light search and rescue; the organizational structure of incident response; and medical do’s & don’ts in a disaster environment. Using the information learned in the classroom and during hands-on exercises, you’ll discover what supplies you should have in your disaster kit and how to assist your family or workplace following a disaster when professional responders are often not immediately available.
The CERT Academy is free of c harge! Anyone 18-years or older, who lives or works in Simi Valley is eligible to participate. Each participant will receive a student workbook, a CERT start-up kit (helmet, work gloves, vest, safety goggles and flashlight) and a certificate, upon the completion of the entire course.
Enrollment in the next CERT Academy is going on RIGHT NOW! The academy is held on six (6) consecutive Wednesday evenings from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM at the City’s Emergency Operations Center located at 3901 Alamo Street. The dates for the academy are: Thursday, March 13th, Thursday, March 20th, Thursday, March 27th, Thursday, April 3rd, Thursday, April 10th, and Thursday, April 17th. A one-day disaster simulation wraps up the course on Saturday, April 20th.
If you are interested in enrolling in the next CERT Academy, the quickest way is to register online via this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-simi-valley-community-emergency-response-training-cert-academy-registration-531 64850499; or you can download and print an application from our CERT webpage at: www.simivalley.org/CERT; or an application can be obtained at the Simi Valley Police Department Front Desk.
Contact Information: 
Theresa Ramirez – Emergency Services Coordinator
City of Simi Valley Office of Emergency Services
805-583-6263
[email protected]
Simi Valley Police Department
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