Class Teaches What to Do <i> Before </i> the Next Emergency : Preparation: An instructor says the public is taking matters more seriously in the wake of the Northridge and Kobe, Japan, earthquakes.

HUNTINGTON BEACH —  Parent Jan Hirsch learned an important lesson about getting prepared for a disaster.

“I can’t put it off. I need to get started, and I’m not going to let it overwhelm me,” Hirsch said. “There are things you can do to cut the odds.”

Hirsch, other parents and community members attended a disaster preparedness program presented last week at Pegasus School by Glorria Morrison, the city’s emergency services coordinator.

For the past nine years, Morrison has taught residents, business owners and school officials how to prepare for an emergency.

In the year since the Northridge earthquake, and more recently after the Kobe, Japan, quake, Morrison said, the public is taking disaster preparedness more seriously.

“When I started this, people looked at me like I was crazy,” she said. “But they’re learning now that they’re going to have to be on their own, because fire and police can’t respond to everybody’s needs in a disaster.”

Morrison said people can prepare by “doing a little at a time.” She advised adding an item each month to the disaster kit, such as water or flashlight and batteries, instead of trying to do it all at once.

Gail Wickenberg, Pegasus assistant director, said that she has developed a disaster plan that enables the private school of about 320 students and 65 staff members to be self-sufficient for up to four days.

A cargo container on the field is stocked with food, water, tents, blankets, tools and other items to ensure a safe environment for students, teachers and others on campus.

“It could become a real disaster if we weren’t prepared,” Wickenberg said.

The city will offer free disaster preparedness classes beginning April 1. By completing a series of classes, people can be certified as disaster service workers. For more information, call (714) 536-5980.