September is National Preparedness Month, and to get the month started, Goleta is releasing videos in English and Spanish that outline steps residents can take before a disaster strikes, and how to get involved in emergency preparedness locally.

Watch the following videos in English with Jason Levy, Goleta’s Emergency Services coordinator, and in Spanish with Ana Sofia Aguilar Encinas, Emergency Services program technician. 
 
• “September is National Preparedness Month” – English
• “September is National Preparedness Month” – Spanish
• “Prepare for Emergencies” – English
• “Prepare for Emergencies” – Spanish

“An emergency can happen at any moment,” Levy says in one of the videos. “That’s why we are making sure we are ready here at the city and we want you to be ready as well. “Knowing what to do before, during, and after a disaster is the key.”

There are several ways to get involved in emergency preparedness and response in Goleta, and the city offers three free options available at various times throughout the year.

Class dates and sign-up opportunities will be announced at www.CityofGoleta.org/Preparedness.

• Community Disaster Education (CDE) courses are a place to start. They are one-hour workshops that teach introductory lessons on how to become prepared for a disaster. Request a CDE in English or Spanish to be given at your local community event, work lunch hour, or other gathering with a minimum of 15 people in attendance.

• LISTOS is a grassroots disaster preparedness program that offers eight-hour courses in Spanish and English. The LISTOS course is flexible and can be scheduled to fit your group’s needs. The course provides easy, actionable steps to stay safe before, during and after disasters, the city said.

• Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training is a 20 to 24-hour course that teaches residents how to work together following a disaster. Offered nationwide, CERT is designed to empower residents with essential skills and knowledge to prepare themselves, their families, and the community for emergencies and disasters.

For more, visit www.cityofgoleta.org/preparedness.

Learn more about National Preparedness Month, and how to make sure you and your family are prepared at https://www.ready.gov/september.