City outlines ongoing initiatives to protect community from disasters
Residents are encouraged to learn more about disaster preparedness and receive emergency alerts
– In response to recent wildfires in Southern California, Paso Robles residents have raised questions about the city’s efforts to reduce risks and improve disaster preparedness, according to a recent press release from the City of Paso Robles.
The city outlined ongoing initiatives to protect the community from disasters, emphasizing preparedness and prevention measures.
The council adopted a new Emergency Operations Plan on April 16, 2024. The plan outlines how people, property, and the environment will be protected during emergencies. It includes specific protocols for scenarios such as major earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, transportation issues, fires, civil disturbances, adverse weather, utility disruptions, and pandemics.
The city invests over $300,000 annually in a Community Wildland Protection Plan, which focuses on reducing hazardous fuels throughout Paso Robles. Additionally, the city’s weed abatement program inspects more than 11,700 properties each year to minimize fire hazards caused by overgrown vegetation and combustible debris.
The Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, educates volunteers on disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills. Residents interested in joining CERT can contact NorthSLOCountyCERT@gmail.com.
The fire department staff also includes members of incident management teams, who bring specialized training and experience to enhance the city’s local disaster response capabilities.
Residents are encouraged to learn more about disaster preparedness and receive emergency alerts by visiting ReadySLO.org, AlertSLO.org, or PRCity.com/fire. Community members can also look up their evacuation zones at PrepareSLO.org.
The fire department emphasized that by working together, Paso Robles can better prepare for disasters and protect the community from wildfires.
