Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training being offered to Berrien County Citizens

The Berrien County Office of Emergency Management is pleased to announce Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training, delivered in partnership with the Berrien County Firefighters Training Council.

Date(s): 8 Sessions all on Thursdays; beginning February 26, 2015 and ending April 30, 2015

Time: 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Cost: Free

Location: Berrien Springs – Oronoko Twp Public Safety Building; 4411 E. Snow Rd., Berrien Springs

Pre-Register Required. Please call Ms. Gayle Bassett 269.983.7111 x4915 or email gbassett@berriencounty.org

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. The students will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Businesses have also started up CERT Teams to help with their continuity of operations plans during a disaster and become, essentially, emergency responders for that business. “CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people.” said Capt. Rockey Adams, the Coordinator of the Berrien County Sheriff’s Dept., Emergency Management Division. “Disasters affect different people in many different ways. As more people learn about how disasters may affect them and how to cope with them, the community as a whole will become more resilient to disasters.” Capt. Adams added.

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. The students will learn about CERT groups and volunteer opportunities available to them during the class.

For more information on the National CERT program, visit: http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams/ also, visit www.bcsheriff.org