Rancho Palos Verdes emergency preparedness committee highlights radio, wildfire cameras and home-hardening push

Members of the Rancho Palos Verdes Emergency Preparedness Committee described recent outreach and preparedness projects on the City Talk on the Road radio program, including a 24-hour AM 1680 emergency radio, a four-camera wildfire detection network and a home-hardening initiative tied to the school district.

A staff member with the committee said the EPC serves as a “bridge between emergency management and our community,” helping run public booths, develop monthly messaging and review city plans and outreach materials to ensure community perspective is included. “They are the reason we have an emergency radio now on the Peninsula,” the staff member said of volunteers who championed the project.

A long-serving committee member who joined the EPC in 2019 and identified himself as a retired LA County fire and sheriff’s department responder said the AM 1680 station is “currently running 24/7 as an emergency broadcasting station” for the peninsula and that four wildfire cameras operate around the hill and are monitored by city staff and the Los Angeles County Fire Department to aid early detection.

James, a committee member, described the group’s seasonal outreach approach and monthly messaging: “The most recent monthly message was about anti-fireworks and how to stay safe during the heat,” he said, adding that the committee aims to keep preparedness issues in residents’ regular conversations rather than only during crises.

Committee selection and membership procedures were explained on the program: members apply, are interviewed and are selected by the city council and city management. Terms are three years; for the current cycle the committee added two new members and three members reapplied. Committee members said they created a short onboarding synopsis to help new volunteers learn responsibilities and meeting norms so they do not unintentionally speak for the city.

Committee members described using subcommittees to refine projects before staff presents proposals to council. The committee is also narrowing recommended preparedness apps to a short list and working on the rollout and public information plan for the radio system.

The program closed with a reminder that residents can follow committee agendas and recorded meetings online and sign up for regional alerts; a committee member urged residents to enroll in Alert South Bay to receive consolidated emergency notifications from neighboring cities.

The segment was hosted by Maria Serrao on City Talk on the Road.