The hurricane devastation in the Gulf Coast states has many communities, including Thousand Oaks, reviewing their own disaster preparedness. Last week the city instituted several services to help respond to community needs in the event of an emergency.

The Thousand Oaks Community Police Resource Center reopened after being relocated, and the city’s new Emergency Operations Center was completed.

These services enhance an already strong emergency preparedness system in place in the city, according to Interim City Manager Scott Mitnick. He pointed out that the city’s “world-class infrastructure” did well during last winter’s heavy rains.

“Thousand Oaks didn’t suffer as much as other cities,” Mitnick said.

The city is part of county, state and national emergency systems, added Mitnick. Thousand Oaks has a full-time staff member dedicated to emergency preparedness, and staff has detailed guidelines on what to do in the event of a disaster.

The resource center had been located at 1425 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. It’s now in city hall at the Civic Arts Plaza. The center provides such services as fingerprinting, vacation house checks and crime prevention information.

The Emergency Operations Center, also located in the Civic Arts Plaza, will be used by city staff and local agencies as a communication base during emergencies. Two city meeting rooms were converted into one multipurpose room with a removable wall. It’s been wired with multiple phone and computer lines, four cable outlets and ham radio communications and will soon include wall-mounted status boards, maps, and video-conferencing and PowerPoint projectors.

The new center complements the emergency operations center at East Valley Station.

“When an emergency happens in our city, we will be prepared,” said Mitnick.

For information call (805) 449-2760.