The Ready Long Beach Recap: 2015

Zombie Walk: Long Beach CERT demonstrates basic triage

C.E.R.T. stands for Community Emergency Response Team. It is a core group of volunteers trained by FEMA and the local Fire Department to help in disaster situations when police or fire get overwhelmed. We were trained in putting out small fires, light search and rescue and basic wound treatment.

During the first power failure CERT was activated to get water to seniors who were residing on the top floors of downtown high rises apartment complexes.

On 09/19/2015 CERT held it's annual Ready Long Beach fair. This is an event when police, fire, CERT volunteers, the Red Cross, Southern California Edison came together to help Long Beach prepare a little better for natural disasters that may be unavoidable. 

You can find a handout that spells out how to slowly prepare yourself over time entitled, 21 Weeks to Prepare, online at the Red Cross Website.

The event included two helicopters close up

At the event Southern California Edison shared things I did not know, for instance the main power lines are 4000 volts and are not insulated. I would never have guessed that something carrying so many volts would not be insulated.

At Ready Long Beach, the American Red Cross was on hand to teach. The Long Beach Police Volunteer Unit was on hand to share safety tips for seniors, general safety tips for the public and information on effective home safety alarms. CERT, had a stage to demonstrate basic triage techniques. 

In all, we conservatively estimate there were about 1500 people who attended the fair, and around 126 volunteers. In addition to all this the event featured food vendors, earth quake simulations and a bounce house in the shape of a sunken ship, just for the kids as well as a Sesame Street Puppet show to teach them basic disaster preparedness as well.

You can find a larger album of pictures at the MacArthur Park Neighborhood Page on Facebook.