The Connection newsletter is comprised of articles written by the people from around the Country who are involved in community preparedness on a daily basis.

DISASTER RESPONSE AND CERT TEAM ORGANIZATION
Frank Lucier, Editor

What a year. The Citizens Corps, Federal moneys for CERT, new CERT web page in the works, and updated CERT manuals. This is a giant step forward. But before we take this step, let’s take a look back at the most critical aspect of a CERT, CERT team operations...Go to Article

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH CERT?
Sam Isenberger FEMA's Emergency Management Institute

As you know, CERT is one of the Citizen Corps programs designated to help fulfill the President’s call for community service. Recently, Congress approved a supplemental appropriation to help promote the development and maintenance of CERT programs in the States and Territories. Before the end of the year, local governments should have the opportunity to apply to the State for CERT grants to get a program started or bolster an existing program.....Go to Article

“ACADEMIC” CERT
Tom Weaver, M.Ed.  Florida Division of Emergency Management

CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) Programs over the years have branched out from the traditional “neighborhood” oriented team to a variety of team orientations. Newer orientations include “Academic” CERT units, teams that are based in school systems. Florida has several approaches to ‘Academic” CERT units....Go to Article

KEEPING THE CERT GRADUATE INVOLVED
Jennifer Teeler, Volunteer and Neighborhood Program Coordinator, City of Federal Way

One of the challenges in any CERT program is keeping volunteers engaged and involved after they have completed the CERT course.  The City of Federal Way, WA has used a number of techniques do this including using CERT graduates as volunteers for projects such as installing smoke detectors in area homes, publishing a CERT newsletter, and having CERT members staff a booth at our community fair. ... Go to Article

FLORIDA CERT CONFERENCE
Wendy Benton , Lake Mary Fire Department, CERT Conference Committee 

The CERT program is a vital part of Florida communities and the emergency management system.  The program continues to grow throughout the state at a steady rate and the team members are consistently looking for more ways to get involved... Go to Article

WHATCOM COUNTY 
Dale Kloes, Program Specialist, Whatcom County Sheriff's Office Division of Emergency Management

Whatcom County, Washington is unique in its geographic location. It is located in the extreme northwest corner of the United States and borders Canada to the north. The local hazards include all the usual types such as floods, landslides, droughts, wildfires, winter storms, as well as snow avalanches, blizzards, mine subsidence, coastal tidal surges, earthquakes, the possibility of a tsunami, and there is even a steaming, snow-capped volcano overlooking the area.  Whatcom County is also home to a very active and successful Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)... Go to Article

NATRONA COUNTY C.E.R.T.
Stewart Anderson, Natrona County OES

C.E.R.T. in Natrona County Wyoming has been in existence for about 3 years.  We were a 1999 Project Impact community at that time and through a survey found that a good majority of the public wanted current hazard information on not only how to prepare for a disaster but what to do if and when one would hit.  At the same time, Emergency Management was heavily involved with our school district’s Crises Management Team.  Go to Article

THE 1st CERT TEAM IN NEW YORK STATE
Bill Empey, Rochester, New York Fire Department

In October of 2001, Fire Chief Floyd A. Madison made the decision to implement a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Rochester, New York. Rochester, the third largest city in New York State is located on the south shore of Lake Ontario. It's the home of Eastman Kodak, Bausch and Lomb, Xerox and Wegmans Food Markets...Go to Article

NORTH POINT HIGH C.E.R.T 
Michael Jennings  North Port High School

North Port High School students are very lucky.  The school offers a First Aid and Safety class, taught by Michael Jennings.  They do a number of drills and practices to help them train for real life situations. Some of the drills are made inside the classroom, while others are far more involved. Because they are trained, the members of the high school team can help local authorities in case of a hurricane and North Port residents are evacuated to North Port High School.  The trained C.E.R.T. members will be able to free up fire fighters and other emergency workers...Go to Article 

In the solemn environment of the churches, municipal facilities or universities auditoriums, you can see the CERT program trainers in action sharing their expertise to their students, while enjoying every session performed.  Among the students, they have trained teachers, college professors, administrative workers, engineers, college students, clergy, etc....  Go to Article

 “What’s Shaking “ is the name of the new and innovative emergency preparedness program that has been implemented by the Riverside County Office of Education, Children’s Services Unit through funding provided by the Riverside County Children and Families Commission (First Five). It’s focus is on preparing child care facilities throughout the county for various types of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods, fires, hazardous materials spills and unauthorized entry... Go to Article

First on the Scene with SCERT
Ronald Nelson, Emergency Preparedness Coordinator, Los Altos High School

It is 11:19 in the morning and the campus is quiet as classes continue on toward the lunch break.  Staff and students participate in discussions and presentations, secure in the belief that they are safe from harm.  However, that calm could be interrupted at any time by an emergency or disaster.  A tornado or violent storm could appear over the school, breaking windows and downing trees or fences on the sports fields, as happened here five years ago.  An earthquake could occur, causing damage to buildings and utilities, trapping classes behind jammed doors...Go to Article

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY AND TERRORISM
Chuch Lanza, CEM, Director, Miami-Dade Office of Emergency Management

In the wake of the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, local communities, states and federal agencies face the daunting challenge of developing a vehicle to meet the ever-present threat of yet another terrorist attack.  Given the fact that we are all working to develop similar response and preparedness capabilities, it is imperative that we do not work independently.
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SOME THOUGHTS ON CERT COMMUNICATIONS
Jim Piper, N6MED, EMT-B, Aptos-La Selva Fire Department CERT member 

The importance of communications between team members during CERT activation and operations cannot be overstated. During either an alert or a mobilization, team members need to rapidly get in touch and stay in touch with each other. Considerations for team communications should consider the following:..Go to Article

Since the program began in 1994, we have trained over 650 CERT members.  Each of these members is active and willing to be ready if a disaster hits the City of Orlando. In January 2002, our first class of First Responder was initiated and it was a success with a total of 25 participants.  Six of the participants have successfully passed the exam for First Responder on July 2002 by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians.  Each year we plan to have this class as an ongoing training for our CERT graduates...Go to Article

Preparedness is the phase of Emergency Management where every volunteer must become involved.  Without adequate preparedness, mitigation is only an empty word. Unprepared volunteers are unable to respond as CERT members or to assist their communities later in recovery to disasters...Go to Article

Rescue Training Consultants out of Saltville, VA, conducted "real-world" training to Seminole County EMS/Fire/Rescue throughout the week of May 13-19, 2002, in Oviedo. The Advanced Technical Extraction training will enable the firefighters to respond to an "unusual nature call," of a trench accident. Rescue Training Consultants owner, Charles "Brother" Smith and Instructor James B. Gargon bring 80 years of firefighting experience between the two of them to educate the firefighters of Seminole County...Go to Article

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