CERT volunteers wanted

By Thomas Nelson, tnelson@charlescitypress.com

The Floyd County Emergency Response Team is looking for more volunteers.

“We’ve got jobs all the way from administrative, answering phones all the way to disaster assessments after the damage has already happened,” said Floyd County Emergency Management Coordinator and Zoning Administrator Lezlie Weber.

CERT volunteers, when activated, work with the Floyd County Emergency Management Agency and first responders.

“CERT is unique in that it is designed to operate independently for a given period of time when normal emergency response services are overwhelmed,” according to the Organization and Standard Operating Guidelines for Floyd County Community Response Teams. “This is usually anywhere from a couple of hours to several days.”

There are 23 volunteers involved with CERT and Weber is hoping to get at least 10 more.

“Some can come to some events, but some can’t, and that’s why I’m trying to grow the group,” Weber said. “All 23 aren’t going to be able to respond to the same thing.”

Weber said she’ll accept as many people as want to apply and qualify.

There are nine different CERT teams and units that people can get involved with: disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility controls, disaster medical operations part one and two, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization, disaster psychology, terrorism and CERT, course review, final exam and disaster simulation.

“By the end of those four nights we will cover all nine units,” Weber said. “It’s their choice to determine where they’ll be placed, but to be an actual CERT member and not just one of the volunteers they have to have the training.”

Members of the community in the medical, first responder and law enforcement professions can also apply.

“In a disaster situation they’re already called by those departments and are pretty busy,” Weber said. “But it doesn’t hurt to have both. They can still come and learn if they’d like.”

There are four categories of CERT graduates. The first category is made up of individuals that just want to be aware of what to do in a disaster situation, but aren’t interested in on-going training or being part of CERT-related activities.

“This course is all the basics,” Weber said. “It’s even good for people that don’t necessarily want to be on CERT, but want the knowledge.”

The second category has individuals that will get involved with CERT if a local or national emergency happens, but not ongoing CERT activities.

The third group wants to continue to train and take part in special projects, and the fourth group has completed the Emergency Medical First Responder training and can deploy with CERT members and independent EMS teams.

The course is free and open to anyone.

“I’m even looking for some 16-year-olds that can write pretty fast and legibly,” Weber said.

The next classes for CERT will be 6 to 10 p.m. on May 8, 10, 15 and 17. Interested individuals must attend each class to be certified. The course is 16 hours overall.

The class’ location is currently yet to be determined.

Applicants will receive a background check, be at least 16 years old, or 14 if accompanied by a parent or guardian, and need a valid driver’s license and proof of automobile insurance.

Anyone that wants to get involved and join can call Weber at 641-257-6144 or email her at lweber@floydcoia.org.