Emergency Response Team

Do you want to learn more about being prepared for the next disaster? The next Emergency Response Team (CERT) class is coming to Loma Prieta Elementary School in May. The series of classes will be held on two Tuesdays, May 5 and 12, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., and two Saturdays, May 9 and 16, from 9 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. The sessions are a combination of lecture, discussion, and hands-on skills practice.

The curriculum covers disaster preparedness, incident-command-structure organization and local activation, post-disaster assessments, basic first aid, triage and head-to-toe assessments, fire and utility safety, disaster psychology, search and rescue, communications, and terrorism.

This training can help you better prepare for a disaster for your family, your neighborhood, or the mountain community at large. Firewise Communities benefit by having community members become CERT-trained to gain a deeper knowledge of what to do in the event of an emergency.

Space is limited, so sign up now to reserve your spot and free CERT backpack filled with safety gear, medical supplies, a curriculum binder, and more. Sign up at signupgenius. com/go/2026BasicLPMay. If you have any questions, call 408-313-5988 or email lpcert.

teamlead@gmail.com. When the Leak Hits the Fan Disaster-Proofing Your Home Keith Kanady Let’s be honest: many of us think of disaster readiness as stuffing a flashlight and a granola bar into the back of a junk drawer. Actually, your home deserves a little more care when it comes to preparing for the unexpected. Whether it’s a storm, an earthquake, or the time your child accidentally flooded the laundry room, being ready can turn chaos into just a mildly inconvenient day.

The Great Water Escape. Plumbing disasters always seem to happen at the worst possible moment. One minute, you’re enjoying your morning coffee, and the next, your kitchen looks like an audition tape for Titanic. Know where your water shut- off valve is, and practice using it. Nothing says “disaster-ready” like being able to stop a gushing flow of water before it soaks into your hardwood floors. You might also consider investing in a leak detector. It’s a small gadget that alerts you when water starts sneaking around where it shouldn’t.

When the Ground Gets Groovy. Living in earthquake territory, we’ve got two choices: strap it down or watch it dance. Secure bookshelves, televisions, and other heavy furniture to your walls. Your antique armoire may look great in the living room, but it’s less charming when it’s dancing across the floor. Stash enough food, water, (and chocolate) to last at least three days.

Keep some sturdy shoes under your bed, because you don’t want to crawl through a minefield of Legos barefoot. Trust me. The Wind Beneath Your Shingles. Windstorms have a knack for turning patio furniture into high-speed projectiles.

Secure outdoor items like trash bins and lawn chairs. Check your roof to make sure all shingles are snug. Nobody wants an impromptu skylight. Power Outages. A portable phone charger is a must-have for staying connected, and a stash of LED lanterns will keep you from tripping over the dog in the dark. Backup batteries are also a great tool. One more tip: Be sure you know how to manually open your garage door when the power is out.

We can’t predict every curveball life throws at us, but being prepared can make all the difference. Stock up on supplies, secure your home, and remember: when disaster strikes, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just another chapter in your homeowner adventure.

Keith Kanady is a Broker Associate with Compass in Los Gatos.