Local CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) members gathered outside the CV Sheriff’s Station in preparation of today’s, Thursday’s, ShakeOut. The annual event, which takes place at 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 20, urges the community to take part in earthquake drills and practice earthquake safety.

CERT trainees also learned fire suppression, how to prepare their family disaster plan and how to be resilient in a disaster.

“CERT members are [many times] the first responders to a major disaster,” Paul said in a previous interview with CVW.

Experts estimate that emergency responders, like members of fire and law enforcement, will be spread thin during an emergency, like an earthquake, and will go first to areas most in need. This means some neighborhoods that have loss of power, water and other utilities will not be responded to as quickly as other areas that have major structural damage. Residents need to be prepared to be on their own for at least three days.