West Hills Neighborhood Council

Preparedness Letter From Fire Chief Bamattre

Los Angeles Fire Department Preparedness

As the threat of impending military action and potential terrorist activity becomes more evident, our need for preparedness within the City of Los Angeles merits attention. The upgrade in the Homeland Security Advisory System to Threat Level Orange (high) signifies an increased likelihood of terrorism in America.

To combat the threat of terrorism, emergency services officials representing all levels of government continue to work together to develop and implement effective strategies for preventing and responding to incidents. I encourage you to continue to be prepared for large-scale disasters, and pledge our continued dedication to unfaltering service.

Proactive Steps Taken by LAFD

Your Los Angeles Fire Department has taken numerous proactive steps to ensure a seamless delivery of service in the event of large-scale emergency events including:

· Increased training of Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers.
· Specialized equipment & training for all personnel in specific areas including Hazardous Materials Operations, Mass Evacuation, Multi-Casualties, etc.
· Augmentation of Fire Department hazardous material resources (addition of Squad 48 in San Pedro).
· Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) certification of Urban Search & Rescue Team in Weapons of Mass Destruction response.
· Deployment of 13 additional ambulances (including one paramedic ambulance) in Calendar Year 2002.
· Increased number of Emergency Medical Service (EMS)/Paramedic supervisors by 25%.
· Augmentation of specialized response staffing at Los Angeles International Airport.
· Continued flexibility to shift staffing from administrative positions to field positions in preparation for increased emergency workload.

In the Event of a Terrorist Incident

In the event of a terrorist incident, government officials will instruct the public on what actions to take. Remaining calm and cooperating with government officials is paramount in ensuring an efficient incident response. As community leaders, your continued support of the Fire Department’s CERT Program is a vital link to the success of any large-scale disaster mitigation. Additional information and requests for training may be directed to the Disaster Preparedness Section at (818) 756-9674. Further preparedness information may be found on the Fire Department’s Neighborhood Preparedness website at www.NeighborhoodPreparedness.info.

Yours in Public Safety,
WILLIAM R. BAMATTRE, Fire Chief
Los Angeles Fire Department