Community Emergency Volunteers Graduate

In the fall of 2000, Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand picked up the phone to Federal Emergency Management Agency officials with an idea, and some great enthusiasm.  That following spring, the first, local CERT (Community Emergency Response Teams) class was under way.

Another class of community volunteers recently graduated, adding to the arsenal of trained individuals Eureka now has scattered throughout the community.

The main goal of the program is to ensure that in an event of a major emergency, participants are taught how to first secure their house and its occupants; from there, a CERT-certified individual can go through their surrounding neighborhoods and offer assistance that would be needed before the fire and police emergency responders arrive to take over care.   

CERT classes are offered to all citizens who have a need, or want to take an active part in an emergency situation in their community, and to help others in need during that time—whether its from earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fire or any other disaster. CERT certified members know how to take charge and offer assistance when the need arises, said Wiegand.

Eight-week sessions are held every Monday at the Eureka Training center, free of charge. Classes offered within the eight-week training program include disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology, terrorism, and disaster simulations.  

Before graduation, CERT students must be able to act and react accordingly to these situations by being put to the test in a hands-on disaster simulation that is executed at the Eureka training facility. This simulation can be from any cause. The March 2011 class had the simulation of an earthquake. The students had to react and treat the "victims" that were trapped by debris and downed structures, as well as administer basic first aid and communicate with the local fire and police departments.   

Deputy Chief Randy Gabel of the Eureka Fire Protection District teaches the classes along with "victim" volunteers, many of them are previous CERT graduates. Several people showed up to help with disaster simulation held for the March graduating class, including Keith Wilson of Franklin County's Emergency Management Association and CERT graduate.

"We have quite a few CERT graduates that come out to help whenever we need them to be 'victims,'" said Wiegand.

Fred Desalme, also a CERT graduate, works for security, attended the March simulation to offer his time and help for the graduating class.    

Citizens that graduate CERT are required to take an additional three to six hours a year in classes as refresher training, and must renew their certification card annually. Some of the additional classes they can take are CPR-certification (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how to correctly guide a helicopter to land at a scene from the ground safely.   

FEMA and CERT work hand-in-hand for widespread disasters, such as the floods that hit the Eureka area in 2006. CERT members were deployed to fill sand bags and distribute MRE's (meals ready to eat) along with many other duties. Education in emergency situations is key, and not only adults can be CERT-certified.

Anyone 10 years old and older can be certified as a CERT member. Patch recently reported about the group of from . Many local Boy Scout troops have incorporated CERT-certification into their troop programs.

"It is time to be proactive. It is time to be CERT-certified," said Wiegand.

For more information about  how to get involved, contact either Wiegand at the at 636-938-6600 or e-mail or Randy Gabel at the at 636-938-5505 or e-mail.