Wednesday September 15 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness Unit 8: Terrorism: Disaster Medical Operations SMC, Brousseau Hall 114
Wednesday September 22 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Units 2 Fire Safety Unit 9: FRS Radio Moraga-Orinda Fire Station 41
Wednesday September 29 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Units 3 & 4: Disaster Medical Operations SMC, Brousseau Hall 114
Wednesday October 6 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Unit 5: Light Search & Rescue SMC, Brousseau Hall 114
Wednesday October 13 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Unit 6: CERT Organization Unit 10: Pet Emergency Preparedness Unit 7: Disaster Psychology SMC, Brousseau Hall 114
Wednesday October 21 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. CERT Basic Training Drill and Graduation CCC FIRE TRAINING CTR.
Towards the middle of June the State of California announced Disaster Corps. Moraga Citizen Corps sat down recently with Chris Boyer of Contra Costa County OES to hear his thoughts. At the end of the meeting we thought that Disaster Corps might be a helpful tool. CERT members can take advantage of the Advanced Training offered through Disaster Corps.
The Moraga Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness group (Moraga NEP) recently organized a garage sale. The garage sale raised almost $350.
Last Updated ( May 18, 2010 at 02:06 PM )
Earthquake Preparedness Orinda 4/14
Written by Frans Hoffman
Apr 07, 2010 at 10:42 PM
Peter Yanev is speaking at the Orinda Library on Wed. April 14th at 7 p.m. in the Garden Room. He will be speaking about making your home safe and being prepared for earthquakes. There will be a Q&A session as well. The program is free (sponsored by Friends of the Orinda Library).
Updated: CERT Call Out Policy
Written by Frans Hoffman
Feb 24, 2010 at 07:30 PM
This is the approved Lamorinda CERT call-out policy (for disaster or emergency call-outs to assist as requested by your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the CERT Incident Management Team (IMT) - NOT for drills or training):
CERT members will not self-deploy to an incident. In the event of an earthquake with a magnitude 6.0 or higher all CERT graduates are authorized to deploy in their neighborhoods. They should check in with their neighborhood block captains.
CERT members will wait to be contacted by their local EOC or the CERT Incident Management Team. Under no circumstance will they initiate contact with the EOC, their local Police Department or their Fire Prevention District as CERT Members.
The EOC and the CERT Incident Management Team may use the phone or runners to contact CERTs. Any communication will include the name and position of the official who has approved the communication.
Following an incident CERTs who have a HAM radio license will monitor their local simplex channels. See the web site of the Lamorinda Community Emergency Communications Team (http://www.k6ori.com/) for details.
At the discretion of the EOC or the CERT Incident Management Team a controlled net may be formed for communications with CERT members. The Net Controller will in that case be someone working at the EOC or assigned that role by the CERT Incident Management Team.
CERT HAM operators may be used by the Net Controller to relay messages to individual named CERTs.
Last Updated: April 8, 2010
Last Updated ( Apr 09, 2010 at 01:25 PM )
Get Ready!
Written by Frans Hoffman
Feb 28, 2010 at 10:07 PM
The earthquake in Chile shows how devastating an earthquake can be. Chile's infrastructure, building code etc. is similar to ours. Fortunately, there are differences, too. The Chilean quake covered an area larger than the Bay Area, but much of it was less developed. Not so in our area where there is a 62% chance of a Big One occurring over the next few years. It is time to get ready! Sign up for CERT and start taking the steps that will save lives, yours included...
Expired: Tsunami Advisory For Contra Costa
Written by Frans Hoffman
Feb 27, 2010 at 02:27 PM
The National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory for the West Coast between Alaska and the California-Mexico border. The advisory has since then expired. A tsunami advisory means a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to people in or near the water is imminent or expected. But significant, widespread inundation is not expected. In the Bay Area, the advisory covers Alameda, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Marin, Monterey, Contra Costa, Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Clara counties. The effect of the Tsunami is expected to show near San Francisco starting at 1:26 pm. The peak is expected to be two hours later. For comparison, the Tsunami is forecast to be approximately 3.3 feet high in Half Moon Bay.
The sad events in Haiti have brought out the best in people. Unfortunately, they have also brought out the worst. Earlier we heard about scams where criminals are trying to rip off people who just want to help the victims. In addition to all this, some people have started to circulate (once again) misinformation about earthquake response. I am referring to the so-called 'Triangle of Life'.
The slides for the Lamorinda Refresher Training are now online and can be found in our Documents section (see navigation column on the left). Here is a shortcut...
Last Updated ( May 09, 2010 at 05:00 PM )
911 Calls From Cell Phones
Written by Frans Hoffman
Feb 03, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Many of you may have had questions regarding the use of cell phones and 911 calls. As you know 911 calls from cell phones in the Bay Area go directly to the CHP Dispatch Center in Vallejo. Some have had varying experiences when calling 911 from their cell phones, such as long delays or no answer at all.
Conduct fire drills and practice evacuating your home twice a year. Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are impassible or gridlocked. Practice earthquake and tornado drills at home, school and work. Commit a weekend to update phone numbers, disaster supplies and review your plan with everyone.
Towards the middle of June the State of California announced Disaster Corps. Moraga Citizen Corps sat down recently with Chris Boyer of Contra Costa County OES to hear his thoughts. At the end of the meeting we thought that Disaster Corps might be a helpful tool. CERT members can take advantage of the Advanced Training offered through Disaster Corps.
This is the approved Lamorinda CERT call-out policy (for disaster or emergency call-outs to assist as requested by your local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or the CERT Incident Management Team (IMT) - NOT for drills or training): 
Many of you may have had questions regarding the use of cell phones and 911 calls. As you know 911 calls from cell phones in the Bay Area go directly to the CHP Dispatch Center in Vallejo. Some have had varying experiences when calling 911 from their cell phones, such as long delays or no answer at all. 
