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.

Twice a year, CERPP holds earthquake and wildland fire emergency response exercises in our neighborhood that simulate what would happen in an actual disaster. Additionally, CERPP provides a number of training classes on topics including:

• CERT (Community Emergency Response Training)
• Get Ready!
• Disaster Communications
• CPR
• First Aid
• First Responder
• DART (Disaster Animal Rescue Team)

Residents are encouraged to get involved for the safety of themselves and their families, and to allow them to assist friends and neighbors in the case of a disaster.