Beverly Hills to Launch Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Program

The city of Beverly Hills will launch a collaborative program to quickly and efficiently align city services with emergency-preparedness training for residents and businesses in the event of a major disaster.

Called “Just In Case BH,” the program is intended to empower volunteer residents with the knowledge and training to help one another in the event of a citywide emergency until city services can come to their aid.

The brainchild of longtime Beverly Hills resident Vera Markowitz, along with Beverly Hills Fire Chief Gregory Barton, the program is in its development stage, with a launch slated in the next several months. Markowitz, a member of Young Israel of North Beverly Hills, has for years been an active participant in Beverly Hills politics, including an unsuccessful bid for the Beverly Hills City Council in 2016.

The structure of “Just in Case BH” is based on dividing Beverly Hills into nine zones, each having a hierarchy of coordinators to block captains. Markowitz is the head of the citizen advisory committee, which oversees all nine zones.

“The purpose of the program is to assure that every resident and business in Beverly Hills receives help in the event of a major emergency,” Markowitz said. “We know that should an earthquake or other major disaster strike, fire and police services will not be able to get to every resident and business immediately. The Just in Case BH system is designed to bring life-saving relief by training residents to help each other until city services can arrive.”

The program has the full support of city leadership, who provide the necessary funding.

“Experience has taught us that the more educated people are about dealing with emergencies, the calmer they will be when one occurs,” Barton said. “Just in Case BH relies heavily on training Beverly Hills residents through the emergency training CERT program so they are prepared to help others, their families and themselves.”

Shirley Reitman, 40, who was born and has lived her entire life in Beverly Hills, is the south zone coordinator, which includes parts of Clifton Drive, east of Robertson Blvd. She was among the first volunteers recruited to join Just in Case based on a WhatsApp group she started several years ago so neighbors on her block could share information and keep in touch. The group grew organically, so it was a natural for her to become involved in Just in Case.

“I have a passion for this city where I have lived my entire life,” Reitman said. “I want to do all I can to make a difference. I know Just in Case will provide the help my fellow residents need in the event of an emergency.”

“A number of years ago, it was first responders who mobilized to render aid,” Barton said. “Now it is going to be the person living next to you; simply to free up city resources so they can respond to the most dire situations first.”

On April 17, a group of Just in Case volunteers walked door-to-door in zone nine, distributing information and answering questions. Before Just in Case’s official launch, volunteers will walk all zones so every resident is aware of the program and how it will function.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting JustincaseBH@beverlyhills.org.

Harvey Farr is a community writer for the Jewish Journal.