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	CERTs “COMING INTO THE COUNTRY” Rachel Jacky, Community Emergency Services Manager, Portland (OR) Fire Bureau In January, four CERT trainers from the Fire Bureau in Portland, Oregon conducted the CERT Train-the-Trainer Course for 28 firefighters, paramedics, and disaster workers from agencies in southern Alaska. The three-day course covered the basic CERT curriculum, techniques for training community response teams, and the realities of setting up a CERT program. The CERT model makes great sense for Alaska, where many small communities are relatively isolated even under normal circumstances, and earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur much more frequently than in any other area in the United States.
The volcanoes and earthquakes aside, wildland fires are one of the main reasons for the current interest in CERTs in southern Alaska. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management made the train-the-trainer course available using funds targeted at mitigating the effects of wildland fires. A spruce bark beetle infestation throughout the area has killed many trees and the fuel load is tremendous. Wildland fires could lead to widespread emergencies where organized neighbors would be a real asset to firefighters. “Citizens who can take care of themselves and help others without getting hurt will be a great resource,” said Jan Henry, Emergency Management Coordinator for the Kenai Peninsula Borough.
The course covered all the units of the basic CERT training, and included a final exercise on the third day of the course. The goal was to provide the emergency responders with skills to train citizens in light search & rescue, using fire extinguishers, field expedient first aid, and CERT deployment and interface with professional responders. The course also covered what it takes to set up and maintain a CERT program. The trainers learned from the participants in the course, too, especially about organizing and deploying teams in rural and isolated communities.
Good news is that at least one of the jurisdictions represented at the Train-the-Trainer Course is already moving ahead to hire a coordinator for their CERT program. We hope to see information and articles in The Connection in the not too distant future as the CERT model takes hold in Alaska!

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