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CALLING ALL FORMER PUBLIC SAFETY and MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS! This month's message from the Board is an open letter to all residents of Four Seasons at Hemet, but particularly intended for a specific group of folks within our community. We know you are here, but to date, you have been unengaged in some very important volunteer endeavors. We are speaking directly to those of you who had careers as first responders or medical professionals. There are a number of you with police, fire, medical, or even emergency management experience. Our community needs people like you to become involved in our preparedness efforts. Very likely many of you may rationalize that you've "been there, done that" and that you now want to enjoy retirement. We can understand and empathize with you. And, we are confident that if a major incident should impact our community, you will most likely step forward and help. But we urge you to seriously consider becoming involved now. You know, first-hand from your professional experience, the importance of training. You recognize that when a major disaster strikes, first responders who normally provide emergency services will not be able to meet all the demands for these services. People will have to rely on each other for immediate life sustaining needs. We can expect that neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. So, if we can predict that emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, and that people will spontaneously volunteer, doesn't it make sense to do everything we can to prepare our residents for this eventuality? That is why we formed an Emergency Preparedness Committee which is tasked with guiding the efforts of our volunteers. A number of your friends and neighbors have already received training to elevate their level of preparedness by completing Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) training. C.E.R.T. is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens are taught; • the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services, • about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness, • needed life saving skills with emphasis on decision making, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number, • to organize in teams offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive. This training concept makes good sense, and helps people understand their responsibilities in preparing for disasters. These folks are enthusiastic and deeply committed to their objectives. However, what most of them lack is the real-world experience and professional training that you have in dealing with catastrophic events. That's how YOU can be most helpful. You understand the importance of planning and training. You know that "how you train is how you respond." By tapping into your vast professional experience and training, you can help provide meaningful guidance and direction to these dedicated volunteers. So, we implore you, as trained emergency responders, don't let your public safety knowledge and professional experience go to waste. Engage now. Please, make use of your skills and training to help your friends and neighbors prepare for emergencies so that we, as a community, can respond as efficiently and effectively as possible. Sincerely, and on behalf of your Board of Directors, Jim H., Ken, Tony, Gene, Jim C. and Greg, Russ Brown President Message from the Board of Directors 2 | Four Seasons Hemet Herald | March 2019 |

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