Organization – It’s What Marie Kondo and VLES Have in Common A place for everything, and everything in its place…it makes operating in an emergency fast, efficient and less stressful. When we designed the VLES GO-bag we drew heavily on our experience and other first responder’s experience. The simple takeaway …
Happy Holidays Everyone! The end of the year means celebrations and with that comes decorations. As you light your menorah or deck the halls this year, we want to make sure you are fire safe. Lights and candles can make your home more festive, but they can also pose a …
October conjures up memories of me practicing to drop, cover and hold on under a desk as a child in an earthquake drill. I always giggled with my classmates but carried this lesson with me. Growing up in California I have had my share of earthquakes. At home, my family …
Tales from the Front Line The Search for Augusto Monterey County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue June 28, 2021 It was late in the afternoon on April 5 with the sun setting behind the nearby peaks creating dark shadows across the snow and boulder fields. At 7100 feet in elevation Augusto …
– Preparedness and Hiking – Summer is still here and many of us have enjoyed venturing out this year on to the trails to get exercise, reduce stress and spend time with friends and family. When most people hear the word “preparedness,” they think of planning for disasters or emergency …
California Wildfires It was Friday June 18 sitting outside on the porch of the Wagon Wheel restaurant in Carmel Valley with my good friends and CERT teammates Wanda Vollmer and Deme Kastros when the recognizable alert tone sounded and a text came in. PER SGT OWEN * SAR MISSION * …
Winter Weather Safety A belated Happy New Year to you all! Just weeks ago we rang in 2021. Our winter has been very quiet so far as we Californians do our rain dances and watch the hills. Well, it worked. This coming week we are expecting some significant rain so …
Halloween Safety Recommendations Here we are, end of October and Halloween just a few days away. COVID -19 has not disappeared and this leaves many with questions on what to do this year. With careful planning and preparation, Halloween 2020 does not have to be a complete disappointment. The health …
Coping with Stress during Wildfires The past few days in Monterey County have been incredible. Three fires burning, two caused by lightning storms and one was arson. The River Fire, Carmel Fire and Dolan Fire. Here in the community, we have grown accustomed to watching, with concern, other counties be …