Disaster Training Available
by Dan Nelson
An information session will be held regarding the CERT program on Friday March 8, 12:00pm at the Seldovia Conference Center. An overview of the program will be provided followed by an open discussion and Q&A time. The organizers will be looking for feedback from the community regarding scheduling and will have literature about the program and general preparedness available. A light lunch will be provided to attendees.
The Community Emergency Response Team or CERT is a training program for community members that will teach basic skills that can be useful in the event of emergencies or disasters. At the conclusion of this 25 hour training, a mock disaster is held in order for the community to practice their skills. Training provides skills in basic fire suppression, disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, incident command, and many other skills.
Living in Alaska is not quite like the lower 48 – it takes longer to get somewhere and sometimes we don’t even have a road to get there! Getting groceries is not as easy as getting in the SUV and running down to the supermarket, and sometimes mother nature decides to bring winter storms, flooding and earthquakes our way. Residents in Seldovia know that even more than city dwellers in Alaskan cities – planning ahead is essential to make sure there are supplies, fuel, and other everyday necessities.
In addition to preparing for everyday needs, it is essential to prepare for the unexpected and times of disaster. As we saw last week with the Gerry Willard generation plant, sometimes even the backup goes down. The Community Emergency Response Team or CERT program exists to train community members how to respond to larger scale disasters such as earthquakes or destructive storms. This training allows for citizens to become a bridge to professional responders in situations where their available manpower and resources are overwhelmed.
CERT training is approximately 30 hours and provides training in personal disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search & rescue, incident command system, and much more! For the first time, this training will be available in Seldovia beginning March 26 and ending with a mock disaster drill on March 30. Participants in the class will have the opportunity to form a CERT team if they wish to volunteer in the community and receive additional supplemental training after the class ends on the 30th.
Why take the CERT training? The skills that are taught and practiced allow everyone to contribute to the community in the event of a disaster, as well as in everyday situations. If a large scale disaster occurred to the Kenai Peninsula such as an earthquake of the same magnitude as 1964, help from outside sources would be slow in coming – and likely even slower getting to Seldovia. At the most basic level, CERT training allows people to take care of themselves, their family, their neighbors and their community.
There is no requirement to volunteer after the class, although most participants wish to continue with the program. Training is free of charge and all materials and safety equipment will be provided. The class will take place March 26 – March 30 from approximately 9am to 5pm.
There will be an information session held in Seldovia on Friday March 8 – please watch the Gazette for exact time and location.
For more information about the CERT program or to sign up, please visit www.kpvolunteers.org or call Alix Chartier at 435-3250, or Dan Nelson, CERT Program Coordinator at 800-478-4441 ext. 2098 or by e-mail at dnelson@borough.kenai.ak.us.
Dan Nelson is the Citizen Corps Program Coordinator for the Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management.
Dan Nelson
Citizen Corps Program Coordinator – KPB IC-III Planning Section Chief
Kenai Peninsula Borough Office of Emergency Management
(907) 262-2098 * (907) 714-2395 FAX
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