This September, the City of Santa Clarita will participate in National Preparedness Month, a nationwide campaign designed to educate the public on how to prepare for emergencies and disasters. Several training opportunities will be available to promote community preparedness and help remind residents to make family plans, create emergency kits, stay informed and get involved in the event of an emergency. Scheduled workshops include:

· Family Preparedness Workshop – Join the City at the Canyon Country Community Center on September 9 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. for this free preparedness event. The workshop will focus on making effective plans for getting families back together in a disaster, including building an affordable emergency kit and securing homes from damages. Registration is not required to attend. The Canyon Country Community Center is located at 18792 Flying Tiger Dr.

· CalTech Earthquake Seminar – On September 18 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Library, join Caltech Administrator Margaret Vinci for a free presentation on the different magnitudes, threats & warning systems associated with natural disasters. No registration is required. The Old Town Newhall Library is located at 25000 Main Street.

· Pet Preparedness Workshop – Residents can help prepare their pets for emergencies by attending a free community workshop at the Valencia Library on September 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The workshop will teach animal owners how to take care of family pets before, during and after crises such as fires, earthquakes and severe weather. Registration is not required to attend the workshop. The Valencia Library is located at 23743 Valencia Blvd.

  · Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) – CERT training can be the difference between life and death in an emergency. Throughout the month of September, residents join the City’s Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) to equip themselves with the skill needed to act quickly and successfully in emergencies. The training will be conducted by the Los Angeles County Fire Department in cooperation with the City of Santa Clarita and held at the Activities Center, located at 20880 Centre Pointe Parkway. The course will educate participants on how to respond in an emergency, particularly when emergency services personnel are not immediately available. The training course will be held on three consecutive Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on September 6 through September 20. Residents can register online at santa-clarita.com/seasons or call 661-250-3708 for more information.

For more information on National Preparedness Month or any of the City’s community preparedness workshops, please contact emergencymanagement@santa-clarita.com or visit Santa-Clarita.com/index.aspx?page=174.