Dear Moreno Valley Residents, As your Mayor, public safety is my highest priority. It’s also a joint effort. In the event of a disaster, such as a massive earthquake, our city’s first responders will have to take care of the most serious situations first, so residents should plan now to take care of themselves, their families and vulnerable neighbors for at least five days. It’s not as hard as it may sound. Begin with the basics, like storing non-perishable food, pet food, and water. Consider everything that won’t work until electricity returns and plan accordingly. Buy some flashlights and a fire extinguisher. Keep shoes near your bed. Learn how to use your gas and water shut-offs in case of leaks. Think about how you and especially children, the elderly and the disabled will get safely out of the house, if need be. Just doing those things alone will make you much more prepared. But you can do more: You can learn how to be of help to your neighbors, too. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is offered free by our City’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM). You’ll learn lifesaving skills, first aid, how to assess hazards, how to use a fire extinguisher, and light search-and-rescue techniques. Register for the next CERT training today at moval.org/oem. And while you’re there, check out all the valuable planning help, and sign up to receive emergency notifications from Alert MoVal. There is so much we all can do right now to be better prepared. As your Mayor, I urge you to start planning today.

Mayors Weekly Message 92