The news out of Orlando, Florida this week has been horrifying. However, at least one thing that emerged from the situation is uplifting and an appropriate subject for this week’s Chamber of Commerce article. Florida law enforcement officials commented on the outpouring of support from local businesses after the tragedy.  Restaurants provided food, hardware stores provided supplies, grocery stores supplied water, and so on. It got me thinking about how our community would come together in the face of an emergency.

Members of CV CERT (Crescenta Valley Community Emergency Response Team) have asked the Chamber to assist them in completing their network of communication. CERT is a group of concerned citizens trained in basic emergency response. They are supported by law enforcement but encourage and teach citizens to handle immediate emergency situations on their own, to then help their neighbors and finally to help their community at large.

For instance, do you have a sturdy truck, extra shovels or a Bobcat loader you can loan out after you’ve used them? CERT wants to know. It’s in our nature as a community to help our neighbors. CERT can be the communication hub for this kind of giving.

This is where our local businesses come in. In the face of an emergency, do you have a plan in place for your employees and customers? If you need help devising an emergency plan, call us here at the Chamber. We can offer emergency preparedness literature and help you find experts to assist you.

After you’ve taken care of your business’ immediate needs, are you willing and able to help out the rest of the community? Does your company perform services or provide goods that could be especially helpful after an emergency such as an earthquake, fire, flood or act of violence?  We at the Chamber would like to know about it so that we can begin to create a list of willing participants. We will pass it along to CV CERT so they can reinforce their network of communication.

It’s comforting to know we live in a community that takes the time to prepare for various eventualities. We at the Chamber would like to be the conduit between businesses and residents and do what we can to be a part of the solution in any kind of emergency situation.

Upcoming events
Scholarship Golf Tournament on Friday, June 24 at 7 a.m. at Scholl Canyon Golf Course. Entry fee is $125 ($440 per foursome) or $135 the day of the event.  Entry fee includes 18 holes, golf cart, bucket of balls, goodie bag, steak & salmon lunch, refreshments on the course, continental breakfast and trophy presentation. Go to www.crescentavalleychamber.org/golf to register.

  Lisa DUPUY