Disaster Preparedness Mixer Planned Jan. 17

As the second anniversary of the Northridge earthquake nears, the Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce wants to make sure that local business leaders are ready for the next natural catastrophe.

Together with the city of Thousand Oaks, the chamber will sponsor a Disaster Preparedness Business Mixer on Jan. 17 at the Civic Arts Plaza.

Part seminar and part networking session, the mixer will bring together members of the business community with representatives of the Red Cross, Thousand Oaks Disaster Assistance Response Team and other emergency services.

Instead of listening to speeches on handling such disasters as quakes, floods or fires, those attending will be able to talk one-on-one with the service representatives as well as mix with fellow business people.

Nancy Lynch, the chamber’s special events coordinator, said the mixer should help remind people that catastrophes can strike at any time. Her own home suffered $34,000 in damage in the Northridge quake, she said.

“After awhile, it’s over, so people put it out of their minds,” she said. “It’s time people start thinking about it again.”

The mixer will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for members of any Chamber of Commerce in Ventura County and $5 for nonmembers.