Residents can learn essential skills by participating in the City’s Community Emergency Preparedness Academy (CEPA) that begins on April 11.
CEPA is a collaborative effort between the City of Mission Viejo, Orange County Fire Authority, Sheriff’s Department, and other emergency response agencies. The program takes place Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6:30-9:30 p.m. through May 5.
The academy is designed to prepare neighbors to work together before, during and after disasters to lessen injuries and help with recovery. The academy is a 21-hour certified curriculum that follows FEMA guidelines for citizen emergency response teams.
Led by emergency personnel, the academy teaches participants about law and fire disaster operations, fire safety, light search & rescue, disaster medical, basic crisis intervention and neighborhood mobilization. The sessions include hands-on exercises where students extinguish real fires, extricate bodies from heavy debris and treat mock injuries in response to a simulated earthquake.
To register and for more information, contact cepa@cityofmissionviejo.org or 949-470-8433.
Kelly Tokarski
Public Information Specialist
