Preparedness

City, hospital take look at how it would respond to major emergency situation.MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- On the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center campus is a 19-foot trailer that hospital staff members hope never has to be used. It is meant to decontaminate people who have been exposed to a chemical or biological agent. The trailer was purchased by the medical center with federal grant money that will also be used for other equipment and training. "We are seeing the Homeland Security money going to the people who are going to be using it," said Steve Storbakken, the service area director of safety for the medical center.

Amber Willard GRIFFITH PARK -- Burbank police officers and fire fighters will be at the L.A. Zoo parking lot Friday through Sunday for a free earthquake preparedness fair. The fair will feature more than 200 agencies and vendors showing people how to prepare for the aftermath of an earthquake. Burbank fire fighters will demonstrate how to shut off home gas lines, secure electrical power and mend broken water lines, said Rich Baenan, the department's disaster preparedness coordinator.

Ryan Carter Fire officials are upset about the hiring freeze on a position they say is key to the department's disaster-preparedness efforts. Fire Capt. Ron Barone will end his tenure as an assistant coordinator Jan. 31. Because of the freeze, Barone goes back on the line as a firefighter, leaving Disaster Preparedness Coordinator Rich Baenen's staff with only an administrative assistant. "To shortstop that position, I think, is ludicrous," Fire Chief Mike Davis said, adding that the freeze is a gamble with disaster-preparedness efforts.

The Burbank Fire Department is encouraging the public to sign up for its Community Emer- gency Response Team training course. The classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays beginning June 14 and last eight weeks. Students will learn skills such as disaster preparedness and fire suppression, search and rescue and disaster psychology from Burbank firefighters. The course costs $50 for materials. Participants must be at least 16, and will receive a CERT manual and backpack containing hard hat, goggles, gloves, whistle and dust mask.

Robert Blechl BURBANK -- The American Red Cross AmeriCorps-National Rapid Response Corps is looking to expand its membership. Adults 18 to 27 are encouraged to join. The NRRC is the chief young adult disaster corps in the nation, helping out after local and national catastrophes. Members also administer health and safety preparedness education to local communities. The stint is 10 months and candidates must have at least one year of volunteer experience and be available for assignments lasting 21 days.

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. The course starts April 10. Students will learn emergency skills like disaster preparedness and fire suppression, search and rescue, and disaster psychology from Burbank firefighters. The classes will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. every Monday night for seven weeks through May 22. The course is $35 to cover the cost of materials.

Jackson Bell A 6.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California Thursday night was the fourth to rattle the West Coast in a week but was too far away to agitate nearby faults, officials said. Residents are encouraged, however, to be prepared at all times for an unpredictable natural disaster. The quake, centered more than 100 miles east of the coastal city of Eureka, was felt at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday, days after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California triggered a tsunami alert for the entire western coast of the United States.

BURBANK — The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that jolted Southern California on July 29 did little damage to the region’s homes and infrastructure, but it was enough for Janelle Williams to realize she was unprepared for the Big One. Williams was one of about three dozen curious onlookers and shoppers at Burbank’s Home Depot on Saturday attending an earthquake-preparedness seminar organized by the home improvement store and the Burbank...

BURBANK ? Stumping for a $400-million budget item that would bolster the state's resources against a large-scale catastrophes, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Providence St. Joseph Medical Center's Disaster Resource Center on Friday, calling it a model that should be copied at other hospitals around the state. It was the first such visit the governor has made to centers designed to expand their bed capacity by 25% in case of a full-scale emergency, he said. "It's easy to see what a great program they have here, and now we want to see these centers all over California," Schwarzenegger said.

BURBANK — From extinguishing a small fire to rescuing someone trapped under a refrigerator, six teams on Saturday demonstrated their best disaster-preparedness skills in an inaugural Community Emergency Response Team challenge. Teams assessed and treated victims with broken limbs and deep cuts in mock disaster scenarios set up at the Burbank Fire Department Regional Training Center. Team members climbed the department's four-story training tower and searched for victims while others were quizzed on their knowledge of procedures for being on a Community Emergency Response Team, known as CERT.

Fire officials say they plan to focus on education and training for the coming year, citing the importance of constantly improving service to residents. “Every year, we go back to the beginning, we look at what we've been doing and how can we do it better,” Assistant Fire Chief Tom Lenahan said. “The better we're trained, the better we serve, the better we are going to deliver.” With the start of a new fiscal year, city departments have presented plans to the City Council on how they will operate more efficiently and how to enhance service.

BURBANK — From extinguishing a small fire to rescuing someone trapped under a refrigerator, six teams on Saturday demonstrated their best disaster-preparedness skills in an inaugural Community Emergency Response Team challenge. Teams assessed and treated victims with broken limbs and deep cuts in mock disaster scenarios set up at the Burbank Fire Department Regional Training Center. Team members climbed the department's four-story training tower and searched for victims while others were quizzed on their knowledge of procedures for being on a Community Emergency Response Team, known as CERT.

BURBANK — The magnitude 5.4 earthquake that jolted Southern California on July 29 did little damage to the region’s homes and infrastructure, but it was enough for Janelle Williams to realize she was unprepared for the Big One. Williams was one of about three dozen curious onlookers and shoppers at Burbank’s Home Depot on Saturday attending an earthquake-preparedness seminar organized by the home improvement store and the Burbank...

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 ? Stumping for a $400-million budget item that would bolster the state's resources against a large-scale catastrophes, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger visited Providence St. Joseph Medical Center's Disaster Resource Center on Friday, calling it a model that should be copied at other hospitals around the state. It was the first such visit the governor has made to centers designed to expand their bed capacity by 25% in case of a full-scale emergency, he said. "It's easy to see what a great program they have here, and now we want to see these centers all over California," Schwarzenegger said.

The Burbank Home Depot and the American Red Cross teamed up Saturday at The Home Depot to provide homeowners with advice and affordable ways to safeguard their families and homes when an earthquake strikes. To recognize Earthquake Safety Month, local American Red Cross representatives shared information on how to take safety measures before a natural disaster strikes. "We want to introduce to people the necessities of pre-planning for a disaster," said Pablo Valadez, a spokesman for the Burbank Red Cross.

City, hospital take look at how it would respond to major emergency situation.MEDIA DISTRICT WEST -- On the Providence St. Joseph Medical Center campus is a 19-foot trailer that hospital staff members hope never has to be used. It is meant to decontaminate people who have been exposed to a chemical or biological agent. The trailer was purchased by the medical center with federal grant money that will also be used for other equipment and training. "We are seeing the Homeland Security money going to the people who are going to be using it," said Steve Storbakken, the service area director of safety for the medical center.

Jackson Bell A 6.6-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California Thursday night was the fourth to rattle the West Coast in a week but was too far away to agitate nearby faults, officials said. Residents are encouraged, however, to be prepared at all times for an unpredictable natural disaster. The quake, centered more than 100 miles east of the coastal city of Eureka, was felt at about 10:20 p.m. Thursday, days after a 7.2-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Northern California triggered a tsunami alert for the entire western coast of the United States.

The Burbank Fire Department is encouraging the public to sign up for its Community Emer- gency Response Team training course. The classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays beginning June 14 and last eight weeks. Students will learn skills such as disaster preparedness and fire suppression, search and rescue and disaster psychology from Burbank firefighters. The course costs $50 for materials. Participants must be at least 16, and will receive a CERT manual and backpack containing hard hat, goggles, gloves, whistle and dust mask.