Disaster Preparedness

Ryan Carter Anxious officials hope to open the city's revamped Emergency Operations Center by January, but recent delays leave them unable to set a date to start operations. The center -- described by officials as a kind of "mission control" -- is at the fire training campus on Pacific Avenue near the Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport. Built in 1988, it has been the primary hub and informa- tion center for the city's deci- sion-makers during emergen- cies.

CITY HALL — Though the October wildfires that tore through Malibu, San Diego and other California communities did not touch Burbank, their fiery paths left a mark on officials in the city who took the opportunity to appraise Burbank’s disaster preparedness. On Tuesday, officials presented its disaster-preparedness plan to the City Council in case a fire, earthquake or other disasters — natural or man-made — befall the city. “Due to the extensive and graphic media coverage of the destruction [from fires]

Amber Willard BURBANK VILLAGE -- Fires aren't just for firefighters anymore. The Burbank Fire Department is sponsoring a Community Emergency Response Team course for the public that starts July 10. Students will learn emergency skills like disaster preparedness and fire suppression, search and rescue, and disaster psychology from Burbank firefighters. The classes will last from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Monday night for seven weeks through Aug. 21. The course is $35 to cover the cost of materials.

Gary Moskowitz BURBANK -- The school board has adopted a new resolution regarding school safety and disaster preparedness to stay up to date with what the district feels is one of the best, proactive disaster preparedness programs in the country. Almost more important to the district than the Sept. 20 updates in policy was the successful reaction school officials and students had to the Sept. 18 power outage -- a test of procedure no one was expecting.

Jackson Bell Eight Burbank Fire Department volunteers awarded for their outstanding disaster preparedness and services by a state organization will be recognized by the City Council on Tuesday. Last month, members of the Community Disaster Volunteers Steering Committee received a Silver Award from the Southern California Emergency Services Assn. for managing more than 300 local residents involved in the emergency program. Volunteer Christine Renna was also awarded for training local high school students in disaster preparedness.

BURBANK -- Providence St. Joseph Medical Center made disaster preparedness look almost glamorous on Friday morning, with a showcase of white inflatable tents, gas masks and shiny plastic hospital beds. The hospital, one of 11 Disaster Resource Centers in Los Angeles County, showed off accomplishments during a Safety and Disaster Fair set up in their back parking lot. Staffers rolled out portable decontamination showers, an inflatable hospital and trailer full of equipment to show the community just what they would see in the case of a disaster.

Disaster-preparedness class held for seniors Disaster Preparedness: How to Look After Yourself in an Emergency will be presented for those people 55 and older at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Joslyn Adult Center, 1301 W. Olive Ave., Burbank. It is sponsored by the National Alliance for Healthy Communities and the city. Course presenters will discuss what one can do during a disaster and how to prepare a disaster kit at this free 1 1/2 -hour seminar. Various safety products will be on display.

In a city threatened by fires, mudslides and earthquakes, it has been five years since returning teachers in the Burbank Unified School District have undergone training in the proper disaster procedures. Growing concern over recent fires and floods has school officials looking in to creating a refresher course for its teachers. "You lose it if you don't use it," said Marlene Burton, the disaster preparedness coordinator for the school district. "Things definitely start to get fuzzy after a few years."

Ryan Carter With fog and fire machines blowing, organized chaos reigned at an NBC studio lot that was the site of a drill to test the ability of volunteers dealing with a terrorist attack. Community Disaster Volunteers drill frequently, but Saturday was the first time they drilled for small bomb detonations at public places in Burbank. The group of volunteers set up in a lot at NBC studios for the drill, which featured mock explosions set off by terrorists at a mall and a crowded school gym. The volunteers, who are trained through the Fire Department's Community Disaster Preparedness unit, usually train for what to do in case of fires and earthquakes.

Ryan Carter A little extra training came in handy recently for local officials and volunteers at the scene of a train collision and derailment. As authorities from Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena and MetroLink converged on the crash at Buena Vista Street and San Fernando Boulevard on Jan. 6, Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Rich Baenen realized he had seen something similar a couple of months before. Burbank was part of a countywide disaster drill in November that included a bioterrorism scenario in which a MetroLink commuter train was full of exposed passengers.

Disaster-preparedness class held for seniors Disaster Preparedness: How to Look After Yourself in an Emergency will be presented for those people 55 and older at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the Joslyn Adult Center, 1301 W. Olive Ave., Burbank. It is sponsored by the National Alliance for Healthy Communities and the city. Course presenters will discuss what one can do during a disaster and how to prepare a disaster kit at this free 1 1/2 -hour seminar. Various safety products will be on display.

Members of the Burbank-Valley Garden Club will hear Norma and Charles Johnson speak on ?Growing Orchids in the Valley? at 10 a.m. in the Assembly Building, Verdugo Park, 700 N. California St., Burbank. Admission is free. A potluck luncheon follows the speakers. For more information, call Grace Davis at (818) 848-0313. ? Happy House , a nonprofit organization dedicated to building better families, co-founded by Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson, is hosting a series of workshops on ?

CITY HALL — Though the October wildfires that tore through Malibu, San Diego and other California communities did not touch Burbank, their fiery paths left a mark on officials in the city who took the opportunity to appraise Burbank’s disaster preparedness. On Tuesday, officials presented its disaster-preparedness plan to the City Council in case a fire, earthquake or other disasters — natural or man-made — befall the city. “Due to the extensive and graphic media coverage of the destruction [from fires]

BURBANK -- Providence St. Joseph Medical Center made disaster preparedness look almost glamorous on Friday morning, with a showcase of white inflatable tents, gas masks and shiny plastic hospital beds. The hospital, one of 11 Disaster Resource Centers in Los Angeles County, showed off accomplishments during a Safety and Disaster Fair set up in their back parking lot. Staffers rolled out portable decontamination showers, an inflatable hospital and trailer full of equipment to show the community just what they would see in the case of a disaster.

In a city threatened by fires, mudslides and earthquakes, it has been five years since returning teachers in the Burbank Unified School District have undergone training in the proper disaster procedures. Growing concern over recent fires and floods has school officials looking in to creating a refresher course for its teachers. "You lose it if you don't use it," said Marlene Burton, the disaster preparedness coordinator for the school district. "Things definitely start to get fuzzy after a few years."

We were struck with sadness by the recent devastation caused by hurricanes in the South. The homes destroyed, the people evacuated and the lives lost touched us all. And it is a reminder of just how quickly and without warning disaster can strike. We should all know how to respond to any disaster in our own area, be it earthquake, flooding or terrorism. We should be prepared to evacuate our homes and take refuge in public shelters, as well as know how to care for our basic needs.

A developer, a former mayor and the city's disaster preparedness coordinator were among the residents chosen Tuesday by the City Council to serve on the committee reviewing the city's operations and governmental organization. The 15-member Charter Review Committee will begin its task of reviewing city functions and organization and potentially reform city government in January. The committee will meet twice a month for a year and then make recommendation for changes that must be approved by voters.

Mark R. Madler Even as the City Council approved a plan to prepare the city for natural and man-made disasters, the city's disaster-preparedness coordinator anticipated changes because of recent rains. "As new disasters occur, we will add those," preparedness coordinator Rich Baenen said. We will put another page or two [in the plan] on damage to the fire roads from the rain. This is a plan that exists in perpetuity and is a living plan." The City Council unanimously adopted the plan Tuesday, but not without giving its own input.

Jackson Bell Eight Burbank Fire Department volunteers awarded for their outstanding disaster preparedness and services by a state organization will be recognized by the City Council on Tuesday. Last month, members of the Community Disaster Volunteers Steering Committee received a Silver Award from the Southern California Emergency Services Assn. for managing more than 300 local residents involved in the emergency program. Volunteer Christine Renna was also awarded for training local high school students in disaster preparedness.

Molly Shore When the "disaster" hit, parents, teachers, school staff and students at Jefferson Elementary School sprang into action. The disaster drill, postponed from November because of high winds at the time, was a districtwide event to prepare for what might happen in a disaster, like an earthquake. Within 10 minutes of the 10 a.m. bell Thursday, school staff, headed by Principal Lynn Perske, had a command center set up on the playground.