Community Emergency Response Team

This is  a volunteer program that Erie County Residents can sign up for to learn more about preparing for the unexpected emergencies like tornado’s, blizzards and you name it.

What if we had a blizzard or flood and no electricity even if you could get out and about, no gas or food, what would you do?

Sure Erie, PA. has been quite lucky for a long time, a lot of storms and violent weather has missed us or has gone around us. Not to mention other hazards of a close by nuclear plant and we have two major fault lines running right thru Erie county.

Part of our team completing a test. Wanda & I are on the left

The whole Idea is to be prepared yourself, your family and once that is taken care of and you want to stay on the team you can volunteer to help the community in time of need. It is a 20 hour course packed full of information and ongoing training once a month when we get together for special trainings and exercises. Such as setting up our equipment, pulling out the supply trailers, and doing dry runs in the parking lot. Sometimes special training may involve a weekend program such as Urban Search & Rescue to Collapsed Structure Rescue.

We have been members for a few years now and have learned a lot about what goes on behind the scenes when disasters strike. You see it on TV how folks are out helping and this is our chance, just in case something would happen in Erie, but we are sometimes asked to other parts of the state in the event of disaster’s.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WAS STRUCK BY A FLOOD, EARTHQUAKE, CHEMICAL SPILL, ICE STORM, TORNADO OR OTHER DISASTER?

Would you know what to do to protect yourself and your family?

Would you have the essential equipment & supplies on hand to handle the situation?

What would you do if emergency responders could not get to your neighborhood?

Find out how to be better prepared for disasters and how you can help your family and community when disaster strikes by attending FREE Community Emergency Response Team training

Sample training

Friday       from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm Disaster Preparedness

Saturday   form 8:00 am to 4 pm Fire Safety

Light Search & Rescue

Disaster Medical Operations 1

Disaster Medical Operations 2

Sunday     from 8:00 am to 4 pm CERT Organization & Table Top Exercise

Disaster Psychology

Terrorism

CERT Graduation Exercise

Course will be held at the Erie County Public Safety Building 2880 Flower Road.

Lunches will be provided on Saturday and Sunday and sandwiches on Friday evening.

To register for this free training please contact Janet Damico via e-mail at CERT@ecdops.org

For more information on CERT go to: www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

Those attending the entire course will receive a free CERT Go Kit

Participants must be at least 18 years of age.