FAQ — Disaster Prep

Question 1

What do you do with my name and address?

Accepted Answer

We use your name and address to confirm you're in the neighborhood and to invite you to local meetings. That's it. Your information is never sold, shared with any company, or passed to any government agency — local, state, or federal.

Question 2

Do you ask about immigration status?

Accepted Answer

No. Not here, not at meetings, not ever. This is a neighbor-organized effort. Everyone who lives on this block is welcome, full stop. We don't ask, we don't record it, and we don't share anything with anyone who would.

Question 3

Who can see my information?

Accepted Answer

Only your zone captain — the neighbor who organized this effort — can see the signup list. It is not shared with LBFD, the City of Long Beach, FEMA, or any other organization. It exists only to coordinate local meetings and alerts.

Question 4

Can I be removed from the list?

Accepted Answer

Yes, anytime. Email your zone captain and ask to be removed. Your information will be deleted within 48 hours.

Question 5

Is there any commitment or dues?

Accepted Answer

None. Signing up means you'll receive meeting invites and occasional preparedness updates by email. You can come to meetings or not — there's no pressure either way. There are no dues, no membership fees, and no obligations.

Question 6

How often do you meet?

Accepted Answer

Once a month, on the last Sunday of the month at 5 p.m. Meetings are held at Immanuel Place, 3215 E. 3rd St. @ Obispo, Long Beach 90814. They're informal — neighbors talking to neighbors — and typically run about an hour. You'll get an invite by email before each one.

Question 7

What happens at the meetings?

Accepted Answer

We cover practical things: who on the block might need extra help in an emergency, where the gas shutoffs are, who has medical training, what supplies people have. We also go over what to do in the first 72 hours after a major earthquake or fire. It's not a lecture — it's a conversation.

Question 8

What if I can't make it to meetings?

Accepted Answer

That's fine. Even being on the list helps — it means your zone captain knows you're here and can check on you if something happens. Come when you can.

Question 9

What is CERT?

Accepted Answer

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team. It's a free, 20-hour training program developed by FEMA and run locally by Long Beach Fire Department. It teaches first aid, light search and rescue, fire suppression basics, and how to organize your neighbors after a disaster. Your zone captain completed this training.

Question 10

Is this site run by LBFD or the City of Long Beach?

Accepted Answer

No. This is an independent, neighbor-organized effort. It's connected to CERT in the sense that your zone captain is CERT-trained — but this website, these meetings, and this signup list are not official city or LBFD programs. We're just neighbors who took the training and are putting it to use.

Question 11

Can I take CERT training myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and Long Beach residents can register for FREE online CERT training at medicine.utah.edu/occupational-environmental-health/research/outreach/cert/online-courses. You can complete the course at your own pace, on your own schedule. The sooner you finish it, the more confident you'll be planning for and protecting your family and pets. When registering, select your preferred language (English, Spanish, or Mandarin) first, then complete the registration. When asked for your CERT organization, select Long Beach.

Question 12

What topics are covered in CERT training?

Accepted Answer

The 20-hour curriculum covers: Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety, Disaster Medical Operations Part 1 (First Aid), Disaster Medical Operations Part 2 (Triage), Light Search & Rescue, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, and a Course Review with a Mock Disaster Simulation.

Question 13

Why does organized neighborhood preparedness matter?

Accepted Answer

After a catastrophic event — a major earthquake, a large wildfire — fire, EMT, and police follow one principle: greatest good for the greatest number. They go first to the neighborhoods that are already organized, where someone knows who needs help and where resources are.

Question 14

How do I reach my zone captain?

Accepted Answer

Email John Endahl directly at John.endahl@disaster-prep.com, or call (415) 816-4025. You can also reply to any meeting invite email you receive.

Question 15

I already signed up. What happens next?

Accepted Answer

You'll receive a meeting invite by email within a few days. In the meantime, take a look at the thank-you page — there's an 8-minute presentation that covers what we do and why it matters.

Question 16

I want to help organize. Who do I talk to?

Accepted Answer

Reach out to your zone captain directly. We're always looking for neighbors who want to take a more active role — helping with outreach, co-facilitating meetings, or eventually completing CERT training themselves.

Frequently asked questions

Privacy & your information

What you're signing up for

CERT training & the LBFD connection

Contact & next steps