The City of Oakland's CORE program offers a new standard for emergency preparedness and residential hazard mitigation. CORE was designed to accomplish three goals:
-- Minimize natural hazards and risks for our residents and visitors.
-- Increase self-reliance skills at the individual and neighborhood level during the disaster and for the critical first 24 to 72 hours after a disaster
-- Argument public safety and other emergency response personnel with trained volunteers to optimize response to emergencies.
CORE has successfully accomplished these goals AND MORE! The 10-hour CORE training program is offered to individuals, neighborhood groups, PTA's and community-based organizations free of charge! The three training courses and their supplemental workbooks include:
- CORE I -- Individual and Family Preparedness (one 2-hour class)
Citizens learn how to set up a neighborhood Command Post, select a supervisor, and create emergency response teams (Search & Rescue, Hazard Mitigation, Damage Assessment, Communication, Shelter & Special Needs and Casualty Collection).
- CORE II -- Developing Neighborhood Command Post, select a supervisor, and create emergency response teams (Search & rescue, Hazard Mitigation, Damage Assessment, Communication, Shelter & Special Needs and Casualty Collection).
- CORE III -- Advanced Training (three 2-hour classes)
Citizens acquire hands-on experience in Fire Suppression, Light Urban Search and Rescue, Damage Assessment, Command and Control, and Disaster Medical. The third session includes a functional exercise based on a magnitude 7.4 earthquake. All training is conducted at the Oakland Fire Services Agency Training Center.
CORE is coordinated and presented by the Oakland Fire Services Agency Office of Emergency Services. The Fire Department shares training responsibilities with the Oakland Police Services Agency's Community Services Division and community volunteers. This cross-departmental approach to training allows us to reach larger numbers of citizens, and offer them a more comprehensive safety program.
CORE was the proud recipient of the California Governor's prestigious Outstanding Service Award in 1991.
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