OCFA urges preparedness as Great California ShakeOut approaches; Laguna Woods council discusses coordination with gated community and CERT

The Orange County Fire Authority briefed the Laguna Woods City Council on earthquake preparedness at the Oct. 15 meeting and urged residents to take part in the Great California ShakeOut drill scheduled for Oct. 16. Division Chief Mike Summers told the council “in California, earthquakes aren't a matter of if but when,” outlined response capabilities, and urged residents to secure possessions, prepare a family emergency plan and assemble go‑kits.

Councilmembers asked how elected officials would be expected to act during a major event. City Manager Macon explained the council’s role remains policy and governance; operational response and field command are the responsibility of trained emergency responders. Staff said an updated city Emergency Operations Plan is expected to be finished early next calendar year and that specific training for the city council would follow.

Public comment focused on how emergency alerts and coordination will reach Laguna Woods Village, a predominantly gated private community with its own security structure. Residents and disaster preparedness volunteers said the city does not have a complete resident contact list for the village and relies on the village’s security and networks for on‑the‑ground notification. City staff confirmed AlertOC (a reverse 911 system) exists and residents may register their contact information with it; staff also described continuing coordination with OCFA and county emergency managers for public messaging and shelter/reception center activation.

Allison Vincent, a member of the disaster preparedness task force, described local interest in CERT‑style programming and said only a handful of Orange County cities currently receive CERT funding; she asked what residents could do to help coordinate. City Manager Macon responded that the city had previously tried a CERT program for three to four years, using outside grant money, and that the earlier effort had not sustained: “the reason we don't have cert right now has nothing to do with finances. It has everything to do with we tried it for 3 or 4 years and it failed.” Macon said staff would continue to work with community volunteers and security to identify feasible volunteer roles and public education approaches, including “CERT‑light” alternatives and neighborhood/captain models appropriate for an older population.

Staff and OCFA representatives emphasized the importance of personal preparedness, household planning and neighbor‑to‑neighbor assistance in Laguna Woods. OCFA recommended residents secure heavy items, create family plans and register for official alerts and noted the agency’s capabilities for search and rescue and coordinated surge operations after a major quake. Staff said the city will present its updated Emergency Operations Plan to council and provide council training early next year.