Community Emergency Response Team

What if a natural disaster strikes Newport Beach? Impossible? Hardly, if you ask Matt Brisbois, the city’s community preparedness coordinator. “In the event of a disaster, city resources are going to be overwhelmed and we’re going to rely on volunteers to come in and assist,” he said. “We are a city of 83,000 residents with a diverse population and divided in half by a bay. “We’re really going to be overwhelmed.” With this in mind, the Newport Beach Fire Department is seeking participants for its upcoming Community Emergency Response Team program.

The Newport Beach Fire Department recognized the efforts of its Community Emergency Response Team on Friday night at an awards banquet at the Newport Coast Community Center. Newport Beach volunteer Kate Mulvehill was recognized for using the Heimlich Maneuver to rescue her father from choking on a piece of steak in December. Mulvehill credited her Community Emergency Response Team training with helping her to save her father’s life. Karen Tringali was named volunteer of the year; Fire Captain Rob Beuch received the Kevin Pryor Memorial CERT Instructor of the Year, and Nancy Moran-Sanchez received the Spirit of CERT award.

Dozens of Newport-Mesa Community Emergency Response Team members worked their last shift with the Freeway Complex fire Friday, after hundreds of hours of helping inferno victims. While many firefighters returned home earlier this week, the Community Emergency Response Team members, who are volunteers trained to respond to emergencies, have been up in the near Irvine Regional Park since the blaze burned through more than 30,000 acres in four days. Volunteers countywide worked with safety officials on logistical issues and helping families put their lives together, doing simple things like handing out lunches.

Calling all hams! Costa Mesa is offering free training to residents who want to join the city's Community Emergency Response Team. The volunteer team -- trained in disaster first aid, communications, search and rescue, and fire prevention -- is on call during earthquakes, fires or other disasters. The city is seeking ham radio operators who would be available, at the ready with their wireless communications equipment, should telephone lines become disabled.

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa fire departments still need participants in their Community Emergency Response Team program. The program’s participants will gain skills in emergency preparedness and mitigation techniques, fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, and team organization. Costa Mesa’s class will be on Saturdays, starting Sept. 29, or on Tuesday and Thursday evenings beginning Oct. 16. For more information contact the program coordinator at (714)

The Newport Beach Fire Department will host an Earthquake Awareness Workshop today from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Newport beach City Hall Council Chambers. Instructors will cover the basics of earthquake preparation, including the type of faults that flow under Newport, the city's plan during a natural disaster and what residents can do to prepare. It will be similar to the recent tsunami workshop. Attendants will receive information on disaster supply kits and how to secure home appliances.

In the event of an emergency, the Newport Beach Fire Department wants citizens to be prepared. Starting Tuesday, the department asks the community to join its Community Emergency Response Team through its FEMA training program. The course is Tuesday through Thursday from 7 to 9:30 p.m., or there is an all-day Saturday program from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. starting Jan. 19. Participants will be trained in what to do during a disaster, and how to be mentally prepared. Instructional focus is on first aid and CPR, light search and rescue, fire suppression and disaster psychology.

If disaster strikes Orange County, these folks are some of those you'd want to have around. Newport Beach Fire Department officials recognized some of 2010's standout Community Emergency Response Team volunteers and trainers Friday night during their annual awards banquet at the Newport Coast Community Center. Honored with awards were David Brandmeyer as Newport Beach's CERT Volunteer of the Year, and Lifeguard Capt. Mike Halphide as the Kevin Pryor Memorial CERT Instructor of the Year.

A natural disaster can happen without warning. Newport Beach is no exception. But what's scarier than fires, earthquakes or a tsunami is that too many people don't realize they're unprepared for such an event until it's too late. To help residents get a handle on the myriad of things that can go wrong in a natural disaster — and how to deal with those problems efficiently to keep your family and neighbors safe — is the second annual Disaster Preparedness Expo on Sept.

The Newport Beach Fire Department is accepting registrants to its next Community Emergency Response Team class, starting next week. The classes start Tuesday and are Tuesday and Thursday until March 27, when there’s a final graduation ceremony and drill. Classes start at 7 p.m. and last more than two hours. CERT classes teach the public how to better prepare for natural or man-made emergencies. Class participants will be trained on basic first-aid techniques, search and rescue skills, and how to make larger-scale plans for neighborhoods.

The Newport Beach Fire Department recognized the efforts of its Community Emergency Response Team on Friday night at an awards banquet at the Newport Coast Community Center. Newport Beach volunteer Kate Mulvehill was recognized for using the Heimlich Maneuver to rescue her father from choking on a piece of steak in December. Mulvehill credited her Community Emergency Response Team training with helping her to save her father’s life. Karen Tringali was named volunteer of the year; Fire Captain Rob Beuch received the Kevin Pryor Memorial CERT Instructor of the Year, and Nancy Moran-Sanchez received the Spirit of CERT award.

Costa Mesa officials are accepting applications for this weekend?s Community Emergency Response Team classes. Friday through Sunday, Costa Mesa firefighters will teach the basics of how to respond during an emergency. Students will learn the fundamentals of putting out a fire, emergency first aid, operating an emergency radio, light search and rescue, and how to get your neighborhood prepared. Unlike most CERT courses, classes this weekend will be open to kids as young as 12 if older family members participate too, officials said.

Dozens of Newport-Mesa Community Emergency Response Team members worked their last shift with the Freeway Complex fire Friday, after hundreds of hours of helping inferno victims. While many firefighters returned home earlier this week, the Community Emergency Response Team members, who are volunteers trained to respond to emergencies, have been up in the near Irvine Regional Park since the blaze burned through more than 30,000 acres in four days. Volunteers countywide worked with safety officials on logistical issues and helping families put their lives together, doing simple things like handing out lunches.

There are still plenty of spaces available for interested community members looking to be properly trained on how to be prepared for an emergency in Newport Beach, Fire Department officials said. The Fire Department’s 2008 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program series begins at 7 tonight. Classes are free, said Community Preparedness Director Matt Brisbois. Weekday classes run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday for 10 weeks. There are all-day Saturday classes starting this weekend.

Invest a little time, a little effort, and see a big payoff. That?s what Costa Mesa fire officials say residents will see if they enroll in Community Emergency Response Team classes starting Saturday. The Costa Mesa Fire Department is offering free CERT classes for anyone 18 years or older for the next three Saturdays ? April 5, 12 and 19. The free classes help prepare the everyday Joe for natural disasters like earthquakes or flooding, or man-made catastrophes like hazardous materials spills.