Moorpark Mayor Patrick Hunter was invited to attend a National Council on Readiness and Preparedness (NCORP) advisory committee formation meeting in Washington D.C. on Nov. 16 to serve on the national task force dealing with community preparedness and response.

NCORP is a public and private partnership to strengthen homeland security. Hunter was invited by former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore, who established the organization.

“I’m honored to participate on behalf of Moorpark,” said Hunter, a lieutenant with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, who believes the city’s biggest calling is to provide for the safety and security of all residents. “We want to be prepared for whatever emergency may strike.”

The biggest threats in Moorpark have been fires, floods and the 1994 earthquake, but the response is the same whether it’s a man-made or natural emergency, Hunter said.

Moorpark is already making efforts to provide adequate disaster response services, said Hunter, who looks forward to the opening of the Moorpark Police Services Center on Spring Street. The new facility will house both the Moorpark Police Department and the California Highway Patrol and feature a state-of-the-art emergency operations center for the city.

“Being on the committee is an opportunity to continue our work for emergency preparedness, whether it’s the result of criminal activity or natural disasters,” said Hunter.

September 11, 2001 not only changed the way communities view preparation and response to crisis, but also redefined the role that citizens and corporations have in helping their community prepare and respond to threat and crisis, according to the NCORP website.

Though the local, state and federal governments are responsible, there are not enough resources to protect all communities and property at all times, nor to respond equally or quickly. The threat is too large and the country is too open, according to the NCORP website.

Hunter plans to work on the outreach and public education component of the NCORP plan so people can look after themselves. Residents must be prepared to take care of themselves and their families from three days and a week, he said.

The NCORP advisory committee will meet three to four times over the next six month and break into smaller regional subcommittees.

The committee will make final recommendations and finalize its work in spring 2006.