DISASTER PREPARATION URGED SIX KERN COUNTY DEPUTIES WOULD BE OVERWHELMED IN ROSAMOND EVENT.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

ROSAMOND - After a major earthquake or other disaster, Rosamond residents better be ready to take care of themselves for at least three to seven days, law enforcement and American Red Cross officials say.

In a disaster, the six Kern County sheriff's deputies in Rosamond will be focused on providing security for firefighters, paramedics and other emergency responders. In a community of about 20,000 people, there will not be time to respond to individual calls for aid.

``It's the individual's responsibility to be prepared,'' said sheriff's Sgt. Rick Price. ``Six guys are not going to be able to handle 20,000 problems all at once.''

Price and Commander Dan Leper from the Kern County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol Officer Steven Hunsaker, and Fran Stewart, executive director of the Antelope Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross, took part in a presentation Thursday night on disaster preparedness at the Rosamond Town Council meeting.

``With all the disasters we've had the past year, we thought it would be a good thing to do,'' Town Council President Dennis Shoffner said of the presentations.

People should have a plan for what to do if a disaster strikes, such as having pre-arranged meeting places and an out-of-state contact for family to telephone. People should also organize in their neighborhoods, where they will need to look after people with special needs such as invalids.

Price recommended two Web sites that have preparedness information - redcross.org and oes.ca.gov, the state's Office of Emergency Services.

Among Price's recommendations for emergency supplies include having a good map of your community and having a bicycle to use if roads are not passable.

Law enforcement officials recommended being prepared for at least three days. Stewart suggested that seven days would be wiser, noting that it could take a while for supermarkets to restock certain items in the wake of a disaster.

Stewart also recommended that people pack foods they like for emergency situations. A disaster is not the time to experiment with new foods or with the energy bar that looked good in the sporting goods store.

Having a first aid kit and knowing CPR are also necessities, Stewart said.

Jim Skeen, [phone]

james.skeen(at)dailynews.com