Emergency exercise: Earthquake causes one fatality - reality

June 07, 2003
Santa Paula News

Although Friday’s earthquake caused extensive damage, Santa Paula didn’t suffer a single fatality - except maybe reality - as the city staged the first faux emergency response exercise in three years.

By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesAlthough Friday’s earthquake caused extensive damage, Santa Paula didn’t suffer a single fatality - except maybe reality - as the city staged the first faux emergency response exercise in three years.City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz - wearing the hat of Santa Paula’s Director of Civil Defense & Disaster - said the activation of the Emergency Operations Center would be an annual exercise, drawing department heads and assorted city personnel to deal with disaster.Friday’s exercise started at 9 a.m. when a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Santa Paula, damaging buildings, rupturing several water storage and one oil tank, trapping victims and causing some injuries.“It was an excellent, serious response,” said Bobkiewicz of city personnel, joined by two Ventura County fire engines in the exercise. “That’s what is unique about government. . .most people think of them in day-to-day operations, but when people turn to us the most is in emergencies. We need to be ready, no matter what Mother Nature sends our way.”Friday’s earthquake, a “big jolt and a little rumble,” said Bobkiewicz.The earthquake felled buildings, knocked out traffic signals, created the need for crowd control at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital where the virtual injured gathered and prompted public information on deal with the aftermath.
Brian Yanez, community services director, was the city’s public information officer and said citizens should use water sparingly, “stay put” to keep private vehicles off the streets and offered updates on the number of injured.Building & Safety Director Steve Stuart noted that all of the downed or severely damaged buildings had not been retrofitted.Assistant Director of Civil Defense & Disaster Fire Chief Paul Skeels led the exercise debriefing where participants from each department critiqued the response.“Obviously this was a very limited exercise,” noted Chief Skeels, who said the city’s activation of the EOC was planned to coincide with the Santa Paula Elementary School District’s annual emergency exercise.City Hall Council Chambers was transformed into the EOC with phone banks, long tables and erasable boards to keep field reports updated.“This is the place if it’s not covered with water or too close from a toxic plume from a disastrous Highway 126 accident,” said Chief Skeels. “In that event we move the EOC.”Stopping by to observe the emergency response exercise were Mayor John Procter, City Councilwoman Mary Ann Krause and Assemblyman Tony Strickland.



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