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Group sees need for disaster-trained volunteers

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To help the community best respond to a disaster or emergency, many churches in Ramona are looking for volunteers willing to be trained for such situations.

The more people trained to respond, the more it helps the Ramona community, said Lt. Rich Williams at the sheriff’s Ramona substation after hosting his Citizen’s Advisory Group meeting May 9.

The meeting’s topic was emergency preparedness as suggested by Arthur Blanck, a member of First Congregational Church and founder of Serve Ramona, an interfaith organization whose mission is to address community needs. Several churches were represented at the meeting.

“We have such great community involvement here,” Williams said.

Blanck said after last July’s flooding he saw a need for trained volunteers who can immediately respond and help.

Deputy Kirstin Lorek with the sheriff’s emergency planning detail said her department, located near Gillespie Field in El Cajon, responds to all kinds of disasters and was in Ramona for four or five days during the 2007 wildfires.

“Our main goal is to prepare our department to respond to disasters,” she said.

Lorek added that they work with other agencies and provide mutual aid.

“We train not only in our department but will open to outside agencies,” she said.

Lorek showed a video on what could occur during a major earthquake, reviewed types of equipment that the department has for disaster response, and explained how to put together an emergency kit. In addition to food, a battery-operated radio and flashlight, extra batteries, and pet supplies, kits should have a gallon of water per person per day, she said.

“You want to be self-sufficient for at least three days,” said Lorek.

Also attending the meeting was Joe Land, logistics manager for American Red Cross, San Diego and Imperial counties.

“Part of my job is preparing for every possible scenario,” Land said. That includes a list of facilities that can be used as shelters during a disaster and available supplies. Land said the Red Cross offers shelter training to church members.

Don Scott, team leader for Ramona Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), said those involved with CERT have been trained and coordinate with the Red Cross.

Lorek and Scott said “spontaneous volunteers” who are not trained are a big problem as there are procedures that must be followed.

Land said he would be willing to work with Serve Ramona on training and other preparations.

“The church groups are really my most valuable asset,” he said. “I will do anything I can to help you guys.”

Anyone interested in disaster training should contact Blanck at 760-533-2103 or agblanck@cox.net.

Other preparedness tips that were offered include:

Register cell phones and email for emergency notifications with AlertSanDiego.org.

Establish an out-of-state phone contact to help reach separated family members.

Make duplicates of, and consider storing off-site, medical prescriptions, insurance papers and other important documents.

Learn the disaster policies of schools and care programs for dependents.

Store your home’s disaster supply kit at an accessible location and take with you if you evacuate.

More information is at ReadySanDiego.org.

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