SENIOR CERTs IN COLORADO
John Bruce, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, Homeland Defense Project Manager, Grand Junction, Colorado

This program began in October 2002 and since mid January 2003, 38 senior citizens, age 55 and older, have completed basic CERT training.  The oldest person is 80 and the youngest is 57.  Another class of 30 seniors is scheduled for late June.  Since the completion of training, the teams meet once a month to increase their skills and to create links to assist first responders in a disaster.  Many, but not all, team members have work experience as first responders and they find these skills to be extremely valuable. One of our most challenging jobs is to explain our capabilities to the current first responders and to emphasize the fact that we can be a valuable asset.

We are making progress and are starting to work with about 500 special needs facilities to help them be better prepared during a disaster and to help them facilitate efficient evacuation procedures should the need arise.  The special facilities include: senior assisted living facilities, facilities that are designed for independent seniors and child care centers. 

We are also concentrating on how our CERT volunteers can help in the utilization of spontaneous volunteers and with logistical support.  We are making checklists to help identify the special volunteer skills and the access spontaneous volunteers may have to specific equipment that may be needed during a specific disaster.

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