FREE COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

SAN PEDRO, Calif. – February 28, 2007 – Local residents interested in attending free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training are invited to attend the first class from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Peck Park on Wednesday, March 14. Training will continue on Wednesdays at the same time and location for a total of seven weeks, with the last class taking place on April 25. The training is being offered by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in conjunction with the Port of Los Angeles. Reservations are not required.

The CERT Program educates community members about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist local first responders in their neighborhood or workplace following an emergency incident. CERT is a national program under the auspices of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that is operated by local agencies – the LAFD in Los Angeles.

For more information, call LAFD Assistant Chief Lou Roupoli at (310) 732-4651 or the LAFD Emergency Preparedness Unit at (818) 756-9674. Information is also available on the Port’s website at www.portoflosangeles.org and on the Fire Department’s website at www.LAFD.org.