CERT Events 1999-2000

CERT Events 2001-2002
CERT Events 2003-2004
CERT Events 2005-2006
CERT Events 2007-2008
CERT Events 2009-2010
CERT Events 2011-2012

Where CERT Has Traveled
	James Harkins' CERT trip to Turkey

What CERT Has Done
	Indian Summer hit pretty hard in November of 2000, which gave us a very warm, sunny Fall 2000 Refresher. Many of us found our way into "CERT Jail", which is the place to which we were introduced when violating basic safety procedures. The drill included a Disaster Alley and a Medical Triage area at the south side of Hotchkin Memorial Training Center, which made it an excellent photo opportunity. In addition, in the parking lot the Jaws of Life were demonstrated and the ever-popular extinguishing of fires. A basic vehicle incident to teach triage was held in the south corner, with a small treatment area. The goal was to teach triage and evacuation.
	For a change, SAR City weekend in 2000 was mild, gentle and nice. In years past we've had rain, heat, wind, and cold, which made staying on-site a bit of a challenge. SAR City is a training and fundraising activity of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Desert Rescue Squad. Helicopter operations include rappelling demonstrations, rescue evacuation, and search dog helicopter de-sensitization training. Ground classes include topics such as shown here; anchor and rigging for low and high angle rescue. Also offered are wilderness rescue first aid, search administration, stress debriefing, map reading and course work, mantracking, and a host of other topics.
	CERT members were invited to play the part of contaminated victims in a Mass Decontamination/Haz-Mat Incident drill held at the Sports Arena on June 12, 2000. Notice was rather short on this, and it was a work day for many, so only 3 CERT members were in attendance. As you can see from the pictures, this very serious business had its wet side. It is a good thing that the 'victims' had a change of clothes, no matter how nice and warm the day was.
	On May 17th, 2000, the Bureau of Sanitation conducted its tenth annual CERT refresher exercise at LAFD's Disaster Preparedness Unit facility in Sherman Oaks. The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation is one of the strongest believers in the CERT program. Cindy Kovacs does an excellent job of keeping the Sanitation Department and many of the rest of the City Folk on their toes and up to date in their training.
	April 14, 15, and 16, 2000, the Los Angeles City Emergency Preparedness Fair was held on the zoo parking lot in Griffith Park. The weekend was a little cooler and much more overcast than in previous years. We got rained on, heavily at times, and the winds kicked up all weekend. Attendance was a little less than one would have hoped for, though that did leave a wealth of information for those who did attend. It seems nearly every public service agency and many private businesses are involved in some form of disaster preparedness, educating the public, and providing emergency services of one sort or another.
	April 1, 2000, CERT members from all over the City congregated at Hotchkin Memorial Training Center to learn what's new and brush up on what we had already learned, but needed to rehearse, refresh and re-learn at the Spring 2000 Biannual Refresher. Teams formed up to practice triage, fire suppression, search and rescue, basic patient transport, and a strong review of the Incident Command System as it applies to our neighborhood as well as in a large scale disaster such as flood, earthquake, or firestorm.
	On January 24, 2000, CERT and the Los Angeles Fire Department Disaster Preparedness Unit hosted the first Southern California CERT Conference. Over 90 teams were represented, and almost 200 Coordinators and Administrators attended. Discussions included how the CERT program was being implemented in various areas of the State, as well as means by which we could assist one another in the event that our own areas were overwhelmed.
	October 16, 1999 found CERT volunteers from all parts of the City of Los Angeles assembled for the Fall 1999 Biannual Refresher. The crew from the DPU kept us so busy from the very beginning of the Refresher that we forgot that this was to be the last Refresher on the 19-hundreds. The date really doesn't matter, though; disasters do not consult a calendar. For a participant's report, click on the link above.
	This group of people responded to City Hall for a city employee call-out in October, 1999. The event went off without a hitch, and demonstrated that the City does have First Responders who will respond.
A handful of enthusiastic CERT West Los Angeles graduates organized a local program on disaster preparedness at the Brentwood Library in October of 1999. Shauna Sorenson, Mollie Bowling, Herley Jim Bowling and Penny Kaufhold worked as a team in true CERT fashion. Three VIP guests appeared to present information to approximately 20 westside neighbors, and Firefighter Mario Newte explained the CERT program in general and gave the group some very down-to-earth tips on the suppression of kitchen fires.
	On May 6, 1999, the Bureau of Sanitation conducted its ninth annual CERT refresher exercise at LAFD's Disaster Preparedness Unit facility in Sherman Oaks. This drill was open to City employees only. The exercise consisted of four stations (disaster alley, search and rescue, medical operations, and incident command). At the conclusion of the exercise, we had the "coup de grace" (hose relay), which involved teams of 5-6 people advancing fire hose lines through and around various obstacles.
	The 1999 Emergency Preparedness Fair, held April 16, 17 and 18, was very educational for both the first-time visitors and participants and seasoned Disaster Workers such as ourselves. Every year the Fair evolves, and no two years are ever the same, it seems. Los Angeles Community Emergency Response Team was there, of course. Our booth was in the midst of the Los Angeles Fire Department area. We had Basic Training and Battalion Refresher schedules available for the public and the CERT members who came by.