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Crime & Safety

High School Prepares Community for 'The Big One'

The Agoura High School's International Baccalaureate Parents' Association (IBPA) and the LA County Fire Department teamed up to give the community the basics of earthquake preparedness.

National Earthquake Preparedness Month is not until April, but Agourans are already a step ahead.

Residents, community volunteers, parents and students of attended a one hour earthquake preparedness presentation at the school on Wednesday night, sponsored by the International Baccalaureate Parents’ Association (IBPA).

The IBPA partnered with the LA County Fire Department to present the informative talk, which included dispelling some popular myths about earthquakes, assembling disaster kits, and getting certified as civilians in emergency preparedness.

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The first ever talk on earthquake preparedness won’t be the last, said Peggy Palmer, co-chair of the IBPA. “We think it should be an annual event as it benefits the school and the community,” she said.

Guest speaker Maria Grycan, the community services representative of the LA County Fire Department, opened her presentation by saying, “Get going while the going is good,” emphasizing the urgent need to prepare for an earthquake. “The time to prepare is now.”

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Grycan cited the massive 1994 earthquake that hit Northridge as an example. “If you wait till an earthquake hits, you might not have access to food and water for days,” she said.

Food and water should be topmost on everyone’s list, said Grycan, who reiterated the national disaster guideline of one gallon of water per day, per household member.

Along with those two basic needs, Grycan also expounded on disaster kits, which most households should have. Several non-profit organizations including the American Red Cross sell them online. Big box stores and other retailers also carry assembled disaster kits.

“If money is an issue, you can slowly build your own kit,” said Grycan. Depending on family members’ needs, a do-it-yourself kit may include a first aid kit, prescription drugs, an extra pair of eyeglasses, wipes and hand sanitizer, among others, she said.

A flashlight and cash in small denominations are also good ideas. “You may not be able to get to the ATM machine for days and even if a store is open, the credit card machines may not be working,” Grycan said.

An attendee asked for suggestions on where to situate disaster kits. While there are no hard and fast rules, accessibility is paramount and dependent on the layout of one’s house, Grycan responded. “A two-storey house may need at least two kits, one per storey,” she said.

“You may also consider keeping the kits outside your house,” said Captain Ed Saldibar of . “An industrial-type trash can with a lid is a good idea.”

Grycan also dispelled some popular earthquake myths such as the widely circulated “triangle of life” email. “Don’t forward it; just delete it,” she said. “The best strategy is still ‘duck, cover and hold’ and the one we subscribe to.”

According to Grycan, there is no such thing as “earthquake weather” and early mornings are not the only times earthquakes occur.

In closing, Grycan stressed the importance of emergency preparedness, stating that her talk just covered the basics.

For more life saving and safety skills, she recommends signing up for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes.

“First responders can get overwhelmed during disasters and you may need to rely on yourself or your neighbor for a while until they can get to you. CERT training can help prepare you,” she said.

For more information on CERT classes, click here.

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