What would you do if a disaster like the Haiti earthquake hit San Francisco? It’s horrible to even think about, but wouldn’t you want to be prepared, and be able to help out your family and neighbors?
After the 6.9 quake of ’89, the San Francisco Fire Department, prompted by the residents in the city, formed the Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT) Training Program, which provides training in disaster and emergency response.
Since 1990, NERT has trained more than 17,000 San Francisco residents to be self reliant in a major disaster. Their goal is to teach as many San Franciscans as possible that, with basic training, they can make a difference in the lives of their families and others when affected by a disaster, large or small. It’s often the first 72 hours after a disaster that are the most important.
NERT courses are free and include training in disaster skills, disaster medicine, earthquake awareness, light search and rescue, hazard mitigation and more.
Normally training is 20 hours over a period of 3-hour sessions, but this month, they are offering an intensive session over two Saturdays. Anyone can attend but residents in the Richmond and Sunset are especially encouraged to help fill out the N.E.R.T. ranks on the west side of the city.
Saturday, February 13 & Saturday, February 20
8:30am to 5:30pm
L’Chaim Senior Center, 2534 Judah Street (between 30th and 31st Avenues)
Click here to register for the class or call 970-2024.
If the intensive training doesn’t fit with your schedule, visit the NERT website for more class dates and times.
Sarah B.
Thanks Sarah! If someone asks if you are prepared and you have a sheepish look on your face- time to get the FREE training! Make a kit, prepare a plan, get trained! I hold a NERT ID with a number less than 1,000 its wonderful that the program is still going past 17,000! Make it 17,000+ YOU!