The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is part club and part service organization, partnering with On Top of the World and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) to help keep residents safe.
CERT is a nationwide program. Members receive five weeks of training in emergency response procedures, damage assessment, and first aid through MCSO. Staff from On Top of the World also attend our monthly CERT meetings, including CERT leadership in emergency planning.
Allen Abbott, team leader of the CERT group, praised On Top of the World staff because of “how open-armed On Top of the World is to our group. We work hand in hand with them; it’s a wonderful partnership.”
While the professional staff of the community works quickly to open roads after a storm, CERT teams also go out in teams of two to check for damage to homes and people, trained to assist with first aid until emergency responders can get through.
Community Safety and Loss Prevention Manager Geoff Oldburg attends the monthly CERT meetings as the liaison between On Top of the World and the group. He said when something like a storm happens, “It’s nice to know people in the community are ready to help. It’s a very good relationship.”
During this active storm season, CERT members have had two opportunities so far during Helene and Milton to practice their skills. Gary Rodoff is the leader of the CERT Advance Team, keeping track of supplies and setting up the incident command post when the group is activated and deployed into the community. He says the key to the organization’s success is flexibility, a skill that was implemented when the group’s regular set-up area wasn’t available during Helene.
On Top of the World staff stepped in to quickly provide another meeting area, and the group pivoted to their new site, setting up and sending out teams to conduct damage assessment.
Abbott echoed the importance of flexibility in emergency situations. “When our command post was unavailable, we shifted seamlessly. The team really came together. Eight months of training culminated in the team executing a perfect deployment of all our assets.”
With another month of hurricane season to go, CERT members will continue to train as they never know when they’ll be needed.
“Expect the unexpected,” said Abbott.
You are welcome to come to one of our meetings to look us over. We meet on the second Tuesday of each month, from 9 to 11 a.m., in the Arbor Conference Center Event Room. Call Debra at 412-443-2930 to confirm the next date.
Community ham radio operators can assist us from home by tuning into Simplex frequency 146.565. When deployed during a disaster event, we need neighborhood reports on building damage, blocked roads, medical emergencies, and other vital information. For information, contact Bruce Twiss at brucetwiss@yahoo.com.
Author: Jane Belz
Photo Credit: Jane Belz
