Hermosa Beach ShakeOut Part 2 Emergency Preparedness Exercise

On October 24, 2013 at 10:24 am, the City of Hermosa Beach, the Police and Fire departments, Neighborhood Watch, Community Emergency Response Team - CERT, Disaster Service Workers - HBDSW and the HBARA (amateur radio associtaion) conducted an emergency preparedness exercise to test the ability to respond in the event of a major earthquake.  The City’s Emergency Operations Center was opened and members from city departments and neighborhood volunteers responded. Shortly after the 'shaking' took place, the fire department conducted a “windshield” evaluation of the city to assess the amount of damage and injuries they observed which was indicated by information that was displayed on multiple signs posted around the city with injury and damage details from which the fire department then reported back to the command post and EOC.  The police department was also making the rounds assessing the situation.

At the neighborhood level, volunteer responders were dispatched to the 1200 block of 2nd Street. With the street blocked off to traffic, the neighborhood exercise was conducted, which simulated injury and death to residents and damage that occurred to structures on the block.  CERT and Disaster Service Workers responded to help assess the neighborhood along with the Neighborhood Watch. There were 2 simulated deaths, one person injured, and an abandoned pet discovered by a Search and Rescue effort. The rescue of one resident was accomplished and was transported to the triage site. The status of the block was then relayed to the command post and EOC by the amateur radio operator.

This was the first time that this broad of an exercise has been planned and implemented involving all responders from the neighborhood level to the city departments all together in the city.  I would like to thank all those that planned, worked, communicated with and supported this effort to help our neighborhoods gain a better insight on how we will be able to not only survive after a disaster but to thrive as we each participate and play our part in the planning, surviving, implementing and recovery process of any incident.

I would like to express a special thank you to Captain Tom Thompson with the HBPD for his leadership, guidance and collaboration with each of the responder teams and to recognize his above and beyond efforts that made this all possible.  A debt of gratitude is also extended to all the participants that helped to make this important event such a success.  I know it will pay off dividends for many years to come.

With much gratitude,

Tracy Hopkins
Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch

The pictures were taken during the exercise on 2nd Street by me, except for the group picture which was taken by Shirley Henderson.