Winter 2005                                             Volume 7    Issue 1

On July 12 and 13, 2004, over 13.5 inches of rain fell over Burlington County in the span of several hours.  Numerous towns in this southern New Jersey county, were severely effected by what has been labeled a 1000 year storm. During the storm, over 12 dams in several communities failed causing a cascading flood surge, which left several towns with heavy flood damage.

Mount Laurel Township was one of those communities, which suffered flood damage to many homes in two of its residential areas.  Over 500 residences in the township were affected by floodwaters, which suddenly rose and quickly covered streets and low-lying areas.

At approximately 11:00 pm on the evening of July 12, the township Emergency Management Coordinator requested that the Mount Laurel CERT Team be activated to assist with the operation.  A local state of emergency had been declared and the township’s Emergency Operations Center was up and running.  Within 30 minutes of the first telephone call made to the member list, twelve members were responding to a designated staging area, located at an elementary school.  This was the first CERT Team activation since the inaugural class had graduated the previous May.  In fact, our second CERT class had just graduated two days before!  Several members thought this was a test call-out until they were assured that this was the real thing.

Throughout the night, the CERT performed several different tasks assisting with Emergency Management functions.  They assisted with a temporary shelter staging area for displaced residents waiting to go to a designated shelter.  They provided emotional support to those traumatized by the incident and helped those displaced in any way they could.  Other members were sent out to purchase a large quantity of food supplies for the emergency responders, thus freeing up firefighters/EMTs to concentrate on the tasks at hand with the incident.  While this is not a function that was taught in the basic class, it was a huge help to the Emergency Management team and their efforts to help “feed the troops” were appreciated by the responders and made a difference that night.

The flood waters receded by morning in Mount Laurel, and compared to several nearby communities, while damage was incurred, it could have been much worse.

The following day, another call-out was made for CERT members to assist the OEM by helping go door to door and hand out information packets from the township as well as FEMA Disaster Relief information.  The CERT Team members demonstrated another excellent response.  The members were more than happy to go back out and help their neighbors again!   The volunteer spirit is alive and well!

While these dedicated team members did not get to go out and do search and rescue, fight fires, or apply their first aid training this time, they did provide emotional support to those displaced by the flood as well as the emergency responders by doing everything they could to make a difference in an emergency.

As their Coordinator, they made me quite proud during this incident, and they demonstrated that they are committed to serving their fellow citizens in times of trouble and need.
 

Return to   THE CONNECTION

  Click on the mail box to e-mail The Connection Editor

© All rights reserved, North American Emergency Management, 1998