Newport offers disaster preparedness training

Earthquakes and hurricanes in the East. Fires in Texas.

No matter where you turn, Mother Nature is putting police and fire departments to the test.

If a major disaster struck Southern California, would you know what to do?

The Newport Beach Fire Department is offering disaster preparedness classes twice a week on weekdays or on a Saturday-only schedule.

Starting at 7 p.m. Sept. 22, Newport will start its Tuesday-Thursday Community Emergency Response Team classes that teach students everything from search-and-rescue and disaster psychology to CPR and how to put out a fire. The classes last about two hours and conclude with a full-blown emergency drill Oct. 29.

Saturday CERT classes are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and start Oct. 8. Students will also participate in the Oct. 29 drill to end the course.

Classes are free for residents and $40 for nonresidents. More information is available at nbcert.org. To sign up, call Community Preparedness Coordinator Matt Brisbois at (949) 644-3112 or email him at nbcert@nbfd.net.

— Joseph Serna