Emergency
Citizens Emergency Response and Preparedness Program (CERPP) was established in 1997 to promote community-based disaster preparedness and response in the Woodside Fire Protection District. The district included the Towns of Woodside and Portola Valley and the surrounding unincorporated areas of Ladera, Vista Verde, Los Trancos Woods, and Emerald Lake. Vista Verde's CERPP coordinator is our resident Tom Bleier.
This short video shows how wildfire embers can ignite houses, and provides suggestions for making your home more fire-resistant. Definitely worth 4 minutes of your time!
Emergency Preparedness Exercises are held twice a year in Vista Verde, with one exercise simulating a major wildland fire and the other a major earthquake. These exercises are an excellent opportunity to learn what to do in the case of a major disaster, and a great way to get to know your neighbors. Residents taking part in these exercises assemble at the homes of their Group leaders (see the Neighborhood Emergency Organization Chart to find your Group leader) at the beginning of the exercise and are given instructions there. These emergency response exercises are announced by emails on the community email group, and notifications on this website and the CERPP website.
Typical emergency exercise activities include:
On the evening of April 16, 2015 in a ceremony at Woodside Fire Station 7, Bill Tagg received the Gaylynne Mann award. Bill is a long-time Vista Verde resident and has tirelessly led Vista Verde's CERPP group for many years.
Established in 2015 in memory of Woodside Fire Protection District Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Gaylynne Mann, this award recognizes an outstanding individual or group in the fire district, who by their actions, furthers emergency preparedness in our community.
The award recipient is selected by the CERPP Board of Directors and WFPD/CERPP staff.
Gaylynne Mann
CERPP Distinguished Service Award
For Outstanding Achievement in
Community Emergency Preparedness
The magical paradox of Vista Verde is that its rural beauty and solitude is just 10 minutes from I280 and the heart of Silicon Valley. However, our community's unique geography and geology also make it susceptible to major earthquakes and wildland fires. During a major natural disaster, our community could be cut off from emergency services for days. By being prepared and getting involved in various training exercises/classes, residents can help to protect themselves, their families, their neighbors, and their property in the case of a major natural disaster.
What Do I Say?
- Stay calm and Speak clearly
- Listen carefully to the Dispatchers questions and answer each question carefully.
- Verbally answer all questions. Remember the Dispatcher cannot see your hand or head gestures, signs or motions.
- State your emergency.
- State your address - IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VERIFY THE ADDRESS
- STAY ON THE LINE
- Do not hang up until the Dispatcher tells you it is OK to do so. They may need to ask additional questions regarding the emergency or an EMS dispatcher may give your instructions to help stabilize the patient before the ambulance gets to your location.
- Follow the instructions of the Dispatcher and remain calm.
- If you can, stay by the phone in case the 9-1-1 call-taker needs to call you back.
Each home should have a Family Radio Service (FRS) or General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radio and keep them charged and set on the channel and code for your Neighborhood. Radios will serve as a back-up communication should telephones not be working. You can purchase a basic pair of 14 channel FRS radios for about $40; radios with more channels will also work. Radios can be purchased at most electronic stores or online, a common example is the Motorola "Talkabout" 2 way.
Read more: Backup Communications Using FRS Radio ("Walkie-Talkie")
