Malibu officials announced the city will hold weekly disaster notification drills, offer emergency-response training and host a safety resource fair in September as part of National Preparedness Month and in anticipation of peak wildfire season.
The city’s activities will begin Thursday with a test of its Everbridge Disaster Notification System, followed by additional tests each Thursday in September, according to city officials. A free Community Emergency Response Team training course will begin Sept. 22, and the Safety Resource Fair will be held Sept. 26 at Malibu City Hall.
“National Preparedness Month is the perfect time to take action to be ready for wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and any other disaster that may strike,” Mayor Bruce Silverstein said. “The City, community members, and first responders have a shared responsibility for achieving community-wide preparedness and resilience.”
The Everbridge tests will be conducted at 5 p.m. Thursdays, with a test message sent to one of Malibu’s four evacuation zones each week.
The schedule calls for Zone MAL-C111 to receive a test message Thursday, followed by Zone MAL-C112 on Sept. 10, MAL-C113 on Sept. 17 and MAL-C114 on Sept. 24.
Most landline and cell phone numbers associated with Malibu addresses are automatically entered into the Everbridge system, according to the city. Residents and businesses can also create a profile and add contact information at MalibuCity.org/DisasterNotifications.
Residents who do not receive the scheduled test message for their evacuation zone were advised to contact the city’s Public Safety Department at PublicSafety@MalibuCity.org.
The city’s free CERT training will consist of six classes held from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 22 through Oct. 8 at the Malibu Library.
The nationally recognized program teaches basic first aid, fire suppression, search and rescue and other emergency skills intended to help residents assist themselves, their families and neighbors when professional first responders may be delayed or overwhelmed during a disaster. Registration information is available at MalibuCity.org/CERT.
The Safety Resource Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26 at Malibu City Hall.
The fair will feature information on brush clearance and home hardening, volunteer opportunities, emergency services and supplies, fire extinguisher training and a raffle. Residents will also be able to meet city Public Safety Department staff, local law enforcement officers and members of the Malibu CERT team, officials said.
The city will also post emergency preparedness tips on social media throughout September covering evacuations, emergency alerts, wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis, power outages, floods and landslides, among other topics.
Other information will focus on preparing seniors and people with disabilities for emergencies, along with disaster planning for pets and large animals.
The Public Safety Department will also introduce its “Ready.Set.Malibu.” social media video series, with each installment focusing on a specific emergency preparedness topic.
More information about the city’s National Preparedness Month programs is available at MalibuCity.org/PrepMonth.