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Source: http://www.macon.com/197/story/659753.html
Emergency volunteers are sought
By Chuck Thompson - cthompson@macon.com
WARNER ROBINS ? If a tornado or other large disaster were to strike Houston County, local full-time emergency responders may be unable to react to all of the needs initially, and it could take some time for additional help to respond from other areas.
In that case, volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team would be called on to assist in aiding their neighbors.
CERT is part of the Citizens Corps Program, a national organization started in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
?The idea is for people to be trained to help care for their own neighborhoods until outside professional help can arrive,? said Lois Kemper, the program manager in Houston County. ?We also assist in search and rescue operations when someone is lost.?
A new training class for volunteers will begin April 7. It is an eight-week course, meeting on Tuesday evenings, finishing with a simulated disaster exercise on Saturday, May 30.
The eight modules to be covered include disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and pandemic flu, CERT organization and disaster simulation.
A prerequisite for the program is completing an independent study course through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is available online at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp, or you can call 1-800-480-2520 to request a book.
To sign up for the CERT class, visit the Houston County EOC Center at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins. That is also where the classes will be held.
For more information, you may call Lois Kemper at 988-7578 or e-mail her at cert@houstoncountyga.org.
Emergency volunteers are sought
By Chuck Thompson - cthompson@macon.com
WARNER ROBINS ? If a tornado or other large disaster were to strike Houston County, local full-time emergency responders may be unable to react to all of the needs initially, and it could take some time for additional help to respond from other areas.
In that case, volunteers from the Community Emergency Response Team would be called on to assist in aiding their neighbors.
CERT is part of the Citizens Corps Program, a national organization started in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
?The idea is for people to be trained to help care for their own neighborhoods until outside professional help can arrive,? said Lois Kemper, the program manager in Houston County. ?We also assist in search and rescue operations when someone is lost.?
A new training class for volunteers will begin April 7. It is an eight-week course, meeting on Tuesday evenings, finishing with a simulated disaster exercise on Saturday, May 30.
The eight modules to be covered include disaster preparedness, fire safety, medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism and pandemic flu, CERT organization and disaster simulation.
A prerequisite for the program is completing an independent study course through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It is available online at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/crslist.asp, or you can call 1-800-480-2520 to request a book.
To sign up for the CERT class, visit the Houston County EOC Center at 200 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins. That is also where the classes will be held.
For more information, you may call Lois Kemper at 988-7578 or e-mail her at cert@houstoncountyga.org.