Preparedness Is Stewardship: Protecting Our Canyon Together
by Topanga resident, Róisín OBrien
Living in a place as wild and beautiful as Topanga is a gift — and with that gift comes responsibility. Preparedness isn’t about living in fear — it’s about empowerment, connection, and protecting what we all love most. I’ve lived in the canyon for just under a decade, and this past fire season was the first time I personally had to evacuate — both my home and my horse. It was a huge learning experience. Moments like that show us where we’re prepared — and where we can improve. Every evacuation, every close call, is an opportunity to grow stronger and be better equipped for the next time.
Preparedness isn’t about being afraid — it’s about being ready, staying calm, and protecting our neighbors and neighborhoods. We are lucky to have incredible established resources here in the canyon—some organizations include: TCEP (Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness), Arson Watch, Topanga Town Council, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), The Topanga Emergency Management Task Force (TEM TF), TCEP’s Neighborhood Networks, and the Community Brigade, Canyon Sages, and Topanga Animal Rescue — all committed to keeping Topanga resilient, connected, and informed.
Each organization plays a different role, but they all share one common goal: to help protect this extraordinary community we get to call home.
If you’re new to Topanga (or even if you’ve been here a while and just haven’t plugged in yet), these groups are an amazing starting point. They offer knowledge, training, resources, and real community support — and they welcome your involvement.
Community Highlight: CERT
One of the most powerful ways to get involved right now is through CERT — the Community Emergency Response Team. What is CERT? CERT trains everyday people to safely help their neighbors during emergencies before first responders can arrive. The training is free, practical, empowering, and taught by certified instructors under FEMA guidelines, often in partnership with regional fire departments or emergency services. It covers everything from basic first aid to small-scale search and rescue, to how to assess your home and neighborhood after a disaster Topanga CERT has strategically placed supply containers throughout the canyon, stocked with medical supplies and emergency equipment. These containers are vital resources in a disaster — but they are only as effective as the number of people trained to use them.
I personally took my CERT training in Agoura, where they built a strong and organized CERT team that became an essential part of the community’s safety network. We have the opportunity — and the need — to do the same here. Topanga has a proud CERT history, but with so many new residents and longtime neighbors shifting roles, there is now space for new people to step in and help rebuild and strengthen the team.
Why CERT Matters
In a major disaster, Topanga could be cut off or isolated for days — or even longer, depending on the situation. It’s critical that we are prepared to rely on ourselves, our neighbors, and our local resources during those early hours and days before outside help can reach us. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, many communities had to wait three to seven days for emergency assistance. If a wildfire, earthquake, or major storm were to strike here, it’s realistic to expect that Topanga could be on its own for a significant period of time. Topanga resident, Stacy Sledge, took a CERT class over a decade ago and found that within two weeks of completing the class, she was able to save her husband’s life after a life-threatening accident—all because of the special CERT training.
CERT isn’t about fear. It’s about preparation, empowerment, and care. It’s about protecting our families, our neighbors, and our canyon — together. This matters because the more prepared a community is, the greater the chance a fire has to slow down — buying precious time for the rest of the canyon.
How You Can Start
CERT training is free, practical, and open to everyone. Upcoming CERT classes are being scheduled now — and if you’ve ever wanted a way to meaningfully contribute to your community, this is it. You don’t have to be a firefighter. You don’t need special skills. You just need a willingness to learn, and a commitment to your neighborhood.
If you’re ready to get involved, there’s a place for you — and Topanga will be better for it.
Learn about the upcoming CERT class beginning May 6th here. Or you can get connected with the Topanga CERT team: infotopangacert@gmail.com
Explore other volunteer emergency organizations in our canyon and tell us how you’d like to get involve. Email: contact@topangatowncouncil.org and we will get you connected!
“Living here is a privilege. Protecting it is our responsibility — and together, we’re ready for anything that comes our way.”contact@topangatowncouncil.org