LIONS CLUB INVITES PUBLIC TO PRESENTATION ON CATASTROPHIC EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

The Pomona Host Lions would like to invite the community to a talk on “Catastrophic Earthquake Preparedness” at 12:10 p.m. on October 18 at the Pomona Valley Mining Company.  The buffet lunch costs $15.  Steve Storbakken, a member of the original team, which created, organized and oversaw the first Great Southern California ShakeOut in 2008 will be speaking. 

Storbakken says that the presentation and discussion will focus on “earthquake preparedness, what damage is most likely to occur, how you can mitigate and prepare and the latest in earthquake early warning systems that are being implemented in Southern California.” He also will conduct a “Drop, Cover and Hold On” drill, which fulfills the ShakeOut participation requirements.  Participants are requested to register for the Great California ShakeOut a twww.shakeout.org so their taking part in the drill will be counted toward the statewide total.

The ShakeOut program, which began in Southern California, has now spread throughout the United States and to six other countries. So far over 8.8 million California residents have registered for the October 18 ShakeOut.  USGS's Lucy Jones led the original ShakeOut team on which Storbakken served.

Storbakken is the Director of Environmental Safety and Disaster Resource Center Coordinator for the Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.  He is the former Emergency Preparedness Director for the American Red Cross Rancho Region.  He is also a member of the Pomona Host Lions and is its Disaster Preparedness Chair. In addition to a Master’s degree in Business Administration, Storbakken has certifications in Hospital Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Safety, Protection Administration, and Hospital Regulatory Compliance and has completed FEMA’s Professional Development Series and Master Exercise Design courses.  For his work in emergency preparedness and the ShakeOut, he has received Providence’s Stewardship, Red Cross’s Golden Bear and California Institute of Technology’s Shoemaker Awards. 

To make reservations for the ShakeOut presentation on October 18, please contact the Pomona Host Lions at pomonahostlions@gmail.com.