In the face of earthquakes, wildfires, power outages and other emergencies, the difference between chaos and recovery depends on who steps up and how quickly. That’s the work of Resilient Los Altos (RLA), a volunteer-powered initiative dedicated to helping residents in Los Altos prepare for, respond to, and recover from such events.
RLA is a sponsored project of the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation (LAMVCF) Local Impact Collective. That allows RLA volunteers to focus on their mission, while the Foundation takes care of the infrastructure and nonprofit status. This gives RLA volunteers the freedom to stay focused on neighbors, training, drills, outreach and cohesion and thereby build community resilience.
RLA’s mission states that it is “dedicated to strengthening neighborhoods … by providing residents with the knowledge, training and resources needed to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies such as power outages, storms, fires and earthquakes.”
RLA is composed of three groups of volunteers meeting this mission: BATs (Block Action Team) members, Community Emergency Response Team members (CERTs), and amateur radio operators (aka Hams). Together, they have a broad and vital role: they build community before disaster strikes and help neighbors respond together if it does.
Here’s how they work in practice:
BATs organize neighborhood gatherings, block parties or social check-ins that build relationships and trust – because neighbors who know and trust each other will help each other in an emergency.
BATs team up with CERTs and Hams in their neighborhoods to conduct preparedness drills, train neighbors how to assemble a “go-kit,” plan for earthquakes or power outages, and check in on each other.
In an emergency, BATs, CERTs, and Hams are crucial “feet on the street.” They assess injuries, hazards and structural damage, and relay this crucial information from neighborhoods to the city. BATs also update the neighborhood with official alerts, connect neighbors who can help or who need help with each other and solve problems with credible guidance (e.g. how to purify water). CERTs provide medical first aid and Hams relay emergency messages when cell phones are out.
Partnership matters
At the same time, being a Foundation-backed project gives RLA credibility, access to networks and the wherewithal to marshal volunteers effectively. It’s a partnership that strengthens both sides, and by extension, strengthens the entire community.
If you want to become part of something meaningful, not just in a crisis but in everyday neighborhood life, consider joining or forming a Block Action Team or becoming a CERT or Ham. Your participation matters. LAMVCF staff and RLA volunteers will work with you to help build neighborhoods that are not only connected, but resilient, safe, and ready for whatever comes next.
Contact [email protected] for information on CERT or Ham training or [email protected] for information on BAT training. For more information, visit resilientlosaltos.org.
Patricia Evans is a member of Resilient Los Altos.
