Citizen responders to canvass Costa Mesa

When you see your neighbors donning emergency vests and packing safety gear Thursday night, don’t panic — they’re just trying to spread the word about CERT.

Members of Costa Mesa’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will promote September classes and distribute emergency preparedness information while they canvass neighborhoods.

The emergency team members are the city’s ultimate first-responders — local residents trained in how to prepare and then react to natural and man-made disasters, city officials said.

The team members are taught many basic life-saving skills, but they also learn more advanced rescue techniques.

They’ll be easy to spot with their green vests and safety gear.

From 6 to 8 p.m., teams will target three mobile home park communities on the Westside and homes on Santa Isabel Avenue, Santa Ana Avenue, Orange Avenue and Elden Avenue on the Eastside.

For more information about CERT and the door-to-door campaign, go on the city’s website, www.ci.costa-mesa.ca.us.

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.