At the Calabasas City Hall, an impressive display of emergency preparedness unfolded recently as city employees actively participated in a large-scale disaster drill. This immersive exercise aimed to enhance the City government’s readiness to safeguard residents in the face of an imminent calamity, specifically simulating a devastating wildfire approaching the Calabasas area. With the primary objective of protecting and preserving lives during real emergencies, the drill proved to be an invaluable experience for all involved.
“Although we can’t foresee when the next crisis will happen in Calabasas, we can all do our best to be prepared,” states Mayor David J. Shapiro of Calabasas. “When a significant catastrophe strikes, the surge in emergency medical requirements can overwhelm our police, fire, and medical personnel. It is crucial for residents and neighbors to support each other and prepare ahead of time, especially in secluded communities that could become inaccessible due to road blockages.”
Calabasas City employees and community members meet at City Hall to prepare for an emergency drill.
The City recently enlisted the expertise of Michael Dyer, the former Chief Deputy for Los Angeles County Fire Department and former Fire Chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. Chief Dyer is now working for Calabasas as the Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Director. He is working with the long time Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Debbie Larson, to help Calabasas prepare and respond to wildfires, earthquakes and other disasters. Chief Dyer and Debbie Larson organized the June 28, 2023, full-scale Emergency Operations Center exercise, a first for the City and a big success. The exercise included the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department, Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management, and Calabasas community volunteers from EPIC-FSC.
The Drill
The exercise scenario assumed that Calabasas had endured several days of above average temperatures with daytime relative humidity in the low teens. The drill envisioned that a vegetation fire had started at 5 AM in the area north of Hidden Hills and the Malibu Canyon Apartments. Winds of 15 MPH were blowing the fire in a south to south-easterly direction, and evacuation orders had already been issued for Zones CAL-C401 and MTV-U025.
The simulation began at 8 AM with an announcement that a wildfire had broken out and continued with twists and turns requiring participants to test their training over the next five hours.
With the fire spreading, the exercise simulated:
- An emergency declaration being declared and an evacuation warning declaration for Zones C402, C406, C408, and C409,
- Department managers being called to an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Council Chambers,
- Department managers being tasked with executing the City’s recently adopted Emergency Operations Plan (EOP),
- The exercise was being directed and evaluated by emergency management professionals.
“The resilience of our City lies not just in the strength of our infrastructure, but also in the preparedness of our people,” explains Chief Dyer. “Disaster preparedness drills serve as invaluable opportunities to equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills necessary to face unforeseen challenges,” Dyer continues. “These drills are not mere simulations; they are vital rehearsals that empower us to respond swiftly and effectively when disaster strikes. By participating in these exercises, we demonstrate our commitment to the safety and well-being of our community. Let us come together, practice resilience, and build a City that stands strong in the face of adversity.”
During an emergency, communication to residents is crucial. The City employs multiple avenues such as Blackboard Connect, AM radio 1630, CTV channel 3 on Spectrum, and streaming on the City’s website www.cityofcalabasas.com.
Left to right, Brad Wiseman, David Goldenberg, Mike Schrage, Tom Cagan (seated foreground), Mark Winn (seated background), Steve Brtis.
Emergency Preparedness In Calabasas (EPIC) was recently added as an EOC component. During the exercise, EPIC debuted its emergency communication platform dubbed “Emergency Communications to Home Occupants” or ECHO for short. Using portable radios ECHO successfully transmitted vetted information from inside the EOC (where two ECHO operators were stationed), to a radio center staffed with six operators in the parking lot outside City Hall, and from there to fourteen radio operators spread throughout the City.
Norm Goodkin who leads the ECHO unit of EPIC stated, “ECHO was created to be a reliable means of communication even when electricity is out and cell phones are down. With several hundred licensed amateur radio operators in and around Calabasas, ECHO gives the EOC leadership another means to reach residents with critical, verified information such as up to the minute status reports, evacuation and repopulation orders, and shelter/emergency service locations.”
Brian Cameron, President of EPIC, added that “This exercise allowed us to prove the concept works. The next step will entail the distribution of Family Service Radios to residents from the City and EPIC so that residents will be able to monitor ECHO alerts when the next disaster occurs.”
The successful completion of this extensive disaster drill marks a significant milestone in Calabasas’s ongoing efforts to bolster emergency preparedness and response capabilities. By actively engaging City employees, collaborating with various organizations, and involving community members, Calabasas is actively working towards creating a safer and more resilient environment for all its residents.
How Residents Can Get Involved
There are three services that Calabasas residents should register with that provide emergency notices in the City of Calabasas:
- Alert LA for LA County – This system is used by the County Sheriff to notify residents and businesses of emergencies or critical situations and provide information regarding necessary actions, such as evacuations. This system has the ability to reach landlines, but you must register your mobile numbers, VOIP landlines and email addresses to receive notifications on those devices.
- Nixle – used by Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire which provides emergency notices and alerts. To sign up, visit Nixle or text zip codes you want alerts from to 888-777. (Note: Calabasas zip code is 91302 – California ZIP Code).
- Calabasas City Notification System – The Blackboard Connect system is used by the City of Calabasas to provide Calabasas specific information in emergencies and for notifications on issues like road/freeway closures and pertinent community information. In major emergencies Calabasas will provide supplemental information to that of the Sheriff and Fire Department. This system has the ability to reach landlines, but you must register your mobile numbers, VOIP landlines and email addresses to receive notifications on those devices.
Residents are also encouraged to take The County of Los Angeles Fire Department Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Developed through FEMA, CERT training provides residents with basic fire safety and lifesaving skills. There is NO CHARGE for CERT classes.
The City of Calabasas also has a Calabasas Emergency Response Program (CERP) Radio Team. To become a member of the CERP Radio Team, you need to be CERT trained and FCC licensed. The CERP Radio Team tests the City’s amateur radio (ham) system on a weekly basis. During an emergency, neighborhood information/status reports would be forwarded to the City’s Emergency Operations Center. Sign up on this website for more information.