SAN DIEGO – Assembly Member Lori Saldaña (D-San Diego) and the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties will hold an Emergency Preparedness Workshop on Friday, April 7^th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Toby Wells YMCA in Kearny Mesa. 

The workshop will focus on the essentials of creating a household disaster plan, building a first aid kit, and developing a system of communication in the case of a catastrophic event. Speakers will include representatives from the Red Cross, City of San Diego Office of Homeland Security, the San Diego Police and Fire Departments, and the Governor’s Office of Emergency Preparedness. Also speaking will be a representative from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), trained citizen volunteers who provide supplementary services in case of a large scale emergency.

“One of the lessons of recent disasters is the need for each household to be self-sufficient for a few days after an emergency,” Saldaña said. “This event will provide the tools and resources for residents to help keep their families safe when emergency responders are overwhelmed.”

Saldaña noted that California is prone to a number of natural disasters, including wildfires, catastrophic earthquakes, and flash floods.

“This workshop is intended to reduce panic by increasing people’s ability to respond calmly and competently in emergencies,” she said.

 For more information, please call Assembly Member Saldaña’s district office at (619) 645-3090.