Nonprofit Helps Prepare Individual Residents and the Entire Community Mitigate Risks and Recover
February 10, 2023: Calabasas, CA — The destruction from the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria this week is difficult to fathom. Thousands of buildings collapsed, and the number of people killed continues to climb, with tens of thousands injured. Many organizations are offering humanitarian aid, but the freezing weather conditions are further endangering survivors and complicating rescue efforts, as aftershocks continue to strike the region.
A group of local Calabasas residents is sending their prayers to the people of the region amidst concerns over “The Big One” striking here in California. After the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire, these locals got together to form EPIC-FSC, a nonprofit with a mission to harden all 8,400 homes in Calabasas from earthquakes and fires, prioritizing and protecting human life, existing structures, and the unique habitat of the community. They offer free home hardening assessments designed to mitigate risks, survive an emergency event, and recover from earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters.
“Experts tell us a quake as strong as magnitude 8.2 is possible on the southern San Andreas fault and would bring disaster to all of Southern California, including right here in Calabasas,” explains EPIC-FSC President Brian Cameron. “We’ve partnered with the experts at CalFire and the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains to help provide our Calabasas neighbors with a free property assessment inspection to harden their homes against natural disasters.”
The U.S. Geological Survey joined other state government agencies back in 2008 to look at what could happen in Southern California should a 7.8 magnitude quake strikes here, publishing the results in a study called the ShakeOut Scenario. The report said it would be “so powerful that it causes widespread damage and consequently affects lives and livelihoods of all Southern Californians.”
“We’ve experienced our fair share of moderate or major earthquakes in California,” Cameron explains. “Experts have been warning about The Big One for years. What residents need to know is there are things you can do to mitigate risks. Now is the time to prepare your home, your family, and your neighborhood before it’s too late.”
After learning how to harden homes from CalFire experts, members like Cameron volunteer their time and share their knowledge to help neighbors increase the likelihood of survival and property protection. During these free assessments, a certified expert from the non-profit meets with local homeowners to assess their homes, sharing insight and suggestions to help protect them against a disaster. Calabasas residents are encouraged to schedule a free home hardening assessment.
In addition to home hardening assessments, the non-profit group has created a definitive plan to help residents reduce and manage risk in the event of any natural disaster. For example, EPIC-FSC’s Emergency Communication for Home Occupants (ECHO) program complements the City’s Emergency Response Program (CERP) Radio Team, both designed to offer basic disaster response skills before, during, and after earthquakes and fires. The organization will help residents purchase and use a radio to maintain communication during and after an incident.
EPIC-FSC is also in the process of creating an app specifically designed for Calabasas residents to successfully navigate communications — from the start of an emergency, during the event, and throughout the recovery phase.