HUNTINGTON BEACH : City Recognized for Disaster Readiness

The city has received an award for “excellence in disaster preparedness” for its community team program.

The award from the American Red Cross and the Orange County Cities Emergency Management Organization recognizes a program started in 1991 after a tornado hit Driftwood Beach Club Mobile Home Park and destroyed homes.

Today, the Community Emergency Response Team program involves 1,250 volunteer residents prepared to form in case of a disaster.

“We know that in a major disaster like an earthquake, the Fire Department can’t take care of everybody,” said Glorria Morrison, the city’s emergency services coordinator. “It could be up to three days before public safety gets to everyone.”

The program allows “neighbors to take care of themselves and each other,” she said.

The city also offers free monthly disaster response classes to residents. The next available class will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on July 9. Early sign-ups are recommended since classes fill up quickly, she said.

Classes offer instruction on first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, search and rescue techniques and other skills.

An eight-month class series also is available for people wanting to become certified disaster workers, Morrison said.

More information about the program or becoming a certified disaster worker is available by calling Morrison at (714) 536-5980.