Community Emergency Response Team training offered in Kenmore

Local Emergency Management to offer FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training Wednesday nights January 14 – March 5, 2014 at Northshore Fire Department in Kenmore

The Pacific Northwest is subject to several natural hazards.  

Earthquakes, severe winter storms, urban flooding, and damaging high winds can all cause an emergency to quickly escalate into a disaster situation. Citizens can suddenly be without electricity and water, need temporary shelter, and even emergency medical care.

Cities have enough fire fighters, police and paramedics to respond to emergency situations on a routine basis. In a disaster situation when many people may need help simultaneously, emergency responders may not be immediately available to meet the needs of everyone calling 911 – if the phones are working. While local government emergency managers at Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA) are bringing special teams, supplies, and equipment into the region to augment city disaster responders, citizens should be prepared to help themselves and one another until help arrives.

Disaster response history shows ordinary citizens want to help, but they need training to operate in the post-­disaster environment and understand the disaster response organization.

To prepare citizens to take care of themselves and their neighbors until help arrives, the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency is offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to local citizens starting Wednesday, January 15, 2014 and concluding on March 5th.

Fire Fighters, EMT's, Emergency Managers and CERT Program Managers deliver the three ­hour CERT classes on eight consecutive Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 10:00pm.

Students will extinguish small fires with fire fighters, learn disaster first aid including triage and treatment, conduct urban search and rescue to extricate people trapped in buildings, and perform other vital skills needed to help others in a disaster environment.

Trained CERT members have the option to become part of a volunteer disaster response team that may deploy with professional responders.

To register, contact Vickie Fontaine at 425-776-­3722.

The Emergency Services Coordinating Agency is a local government emergency management organization created by the cities of Brier, Edmonds, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Lynnwood, Mill Creek, Mountlake Terrace, Mukilteo, Woodinville, and the Town of Woodway.