Temescal Valley Disaster Response Team needs you!

CERTIFIED!: Several Temescal Valley residents received their Community Emergency Response Team certification at an October CERT class.

The county Emergency Management Department (EMD), has devoted resources for the formation of a Disaster Response Team (DRT), for Temescal Valley.

Why? We all chose to live here, a narrow valley with no east-west exits and only one north-south roadway in addition to the I-15. We’re surrounded by lush vegetation – easy fuel for wildfires, and we sit on top of the Elsinore Fault Zone, capable of a 7.5 earthquake. The epicenter of its largest recorded tremblor, a magnitude 6.0 in 1910, was in Temescal Valley.

CHECK HERE FOR CERT CLASSESWANT TO LEARN MORE?
View the county’s Disaster Response Team Prerequisites package HERE

If disaster strikes, we must be able to take care of ourselves and our families, and be prepared to assist our neighbors, as well. That’s what Disaster Response Team training teaches. The team will meet quarterly for training, and team members also are on-call if needed by county EMD.

There are prerequisites before volunteers can be sworn-in as a Disaster Service Worker, but the time invested in this free program will be well worth it when disaster strikes.

Applicants must have Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), training. CERT classes are a commitment of 20 hours over three days — usually  Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday.

Potential team members must also fill out an application and take four FEMA online courses. The application cannot be submitted until the FEMA courses are completed, but can be submitted prior to CERT certification. Applicants also must have a no-cost background check.

Temescal Valley DRT now has over 20 potential members who are working toward the prerequisites. The majority are residents of Horsethief Canyon Ranch and Wildrose Ranch, but Sycamore Creek, The Retreat and Dawson Canyon also are represented. The goal is to have team members from every community in Temescal Valley.

6 thoughts on “Temescal Valley Disaster Response Team needs you!

  1. Brittany

    I am interested in doing the next CERT training in February, but I don’t see any information on signing up. Where can I find that? The city of corona page only lists an interest form but no formal class dates to sign up

  2. Rich MD from The Retreat

    We just had a 4.1 quake centered right here in Temescal Valley. Hope everyone is OK. I’m a Physician if needed to help our community.

    1. admin Post author

      Hi, Dr. Rich! The Temescal Valley Disaster Response Team (DRT) definitely needs trained medical personnel as members. You’ve read the story on this page and we do have the required Community Emergency Response Team classes upcoming. It’s a 20-hour commitment for certification — 3 classes: 5 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 7, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11. The classes are being held in Temescal Valley. You can register here: https://tinyurl.com/yb872efu

    1. admin Post author

      No, Lisa — no need to take CERT training again unless you were certified years ago and might need a refresher course.

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