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Priority 3: Making sure City emergency personnel are trained and equipped to deal with catastrophic events and linking our citizens with available emergency training opportunities
Santa Clara’s Police and Fire forces are the envy of cities and counties across the state. Only the very best are hired. Then they are superbly trained and superbly equipped. So what’s the problem?
The tragedy of 9/11 and the flooding in the gulf states have left us with the bitter lesson that in the face of truly catastrophic events, emergency personnel, no matter how well trained or equipped, will be challenged beyond their preparedness. We know that we are especially vulnerable to earthquake or flooding or other disasters because of where we are geologically and because of who we are in the heartland of technology. We must continue to provide the support necessary to ensure that our emergency personnel are always at the peak of readiness. Santa Clara’s Police and Fire personnel must continue to be the best trained and the best equipped, and then they must be given opportunities to test that readiness in live-action drills and simulations. This last piece will benefit not only our emergency staff but other staff and residents who are involved.
Preparing a community for catastrophe doesn’t stop at the door to the fire house or police station. Our citizens have responsibility here as well – responsibility and in Santa Clara, opportunity. The Santa Clara Police and Fire Departments offer great outreach programs. The Citizens Police Academy, for example, is heavily subscribed and very successful. Among the programs offered by the Fire Department is a wonderful program called HEAT (Home Emergency Assistance Teams). The HEAT training program, taught by Santa Clara Fire personnel, will help citizens be self-sufficient in their homes and neighborhoods after a major disaster. I recently took the course. It is a powerful, effective opportunity for Santa Clara residents to gain a high level of readiness. In the ten years the HEAT program has been offered, only a little over 600 Santa Clara residents have completed the course. I plan to do what I can to make all Santa Clarans aware of this fine program and to encourage you and many more Santa Clara residents to take advantage of this opportunity (call 615-4940). Our city will be stronger for your effort.
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