Disaster Preparedness Fair in Santa Cruz County

The earthquake that shook the Napa Valley has residents here on the Central Coast preparing for the next big one.

“We hope that things like what happened in Napa and the wildfires we’ve had across the state will bring this issue more to the forefront,” said Liz Taylor-Selling from the Santa Cruz County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

Taylor-Selling said people need to always be prepared and ready for the unexpected.

“Whether it’s an earthquake or a flood or wildfire, it can happen right here,” said Taylor-Selling.

The Disaster Preparedness Fair is held every year in Santa Cruz County. At the event, emergency response teams are teaching residents fire suppression skills, first aid, and earthquake preparedness. They’re things Soquel resident Bianca Crowbear wants her children to learn, especially after what happened in Napa just a few weeks ago.

“I really want them to have those skills and be safe. It’s really all we can do in California,” said Crowbear.

Crowbear was a child during the Loma Prieta Earthquake and remembers that day very clearly.

“My house was actually red tagged. We were put in a shelter, it was very scary,” said Crowbear.

Scary memories that remind her it’s good to be prepared.