Great Shake Out '25

The PMCCERT Team participated along with millions around the world in the Great Shakeout Drill on October 16, 2025. For 2 ½ hours after the PMC Radio Safety Net alert at 10:16 am, in response to a signal from the My Shakeout app, PMCCERT practiced as if a major quake had rocked the mountain. While some PMCCERT members called in simulated reports of damage and injury, other PMCCERT team members manned the Command Center, recording information and dispatching it on to the appropriate response teams like 911, PMCPOA maintenance, or trained PMCCERT teams. This year, simulated calls were posted on an electronic screen in order of severity as well as logged on to paper to be circulated through command desks. The PMCCERT Building, located near the Firehouse, is set up as a permanent Command Center similar to the Emergency Operations Center in Bakersfield. Observers from Kern County Fire Station 58 gave PMCCERT high marks and great feedback. Also on hand for the Shakeout in PMC was the Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle along with Camilla Ranger and George Manolakas from the Kern and Eastern Sierra Red Cross Chapter. The new Red Cross Team in PMC will play an additional part in disaster recovery providing shelter options.

PMCCERT, PMC Emergency Preparedness Committee, the PMC Radio Safety Net and the PMC Red Cross Team are local volunteers working together to prepare our community for disasters like quake, fire and snow. Everyone who lives here in the mountains whether full or part time needs to have emergency supplies on hand and a written family emergency plan. Preparedness information can be found on the following websites : Pinemountainclub.org/natural-disasters, kerncountyfire.org, kernfiresafe.org, redcross.org and others. PMCCERT provides real-time updates of emergencies on their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PMCCERTpage.

Preparation is the first step to survival.