Paulding County EMA Gains 21 New Volunteers In CERT Program

DALLAS, GA -- The Paulding County Emergency Management Agency held its third Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, Basic Training Course recently, with 21 new members successfully completing the training requirements and application process to hold a position on the team.

Training included class room study and performance exercises in the following topics: disaster
preparedness, CERT organization, disaster psychology, light search and rescue, fire safety,
terrorism and disaster medical operations. These blocks of instruction were delivered on week
day evenings in May at the Paulding County Emergency Operations Center.

Graduates of the CERT Basic Training Course include: Michelle Boyce, Chip Boyd, Charles
Caprio, Shannon Caprio, Tiffany Clark, Anthony Clonts, Amanda Corn, Greg Corn, Eric Eberly,
Doug Edwards, Ryan Fleeman, Tonia Johnson, Brandon LaDue, Aaron McMichen, Nicole
McMichen, John N. Morgan, Timothy Payne, Paul Poss, Dakota Smith, Wayne Sonnevelt, and
Zinna Swann.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and U.S. Department of Homeland
Security promote the CERT Programs nationally as part of the Presidents Citizen Corps. FEMA
supports CERT through grant funding and sponsoring train the trainer and program manager
courses for members of the fire, medical, and emergency management community.

Paulding County EMA started its CERT Program in 2016 to assist with shelter management
operations, search and rescue of missing persons, Skywarn storm spotter participation, and
disaster recovery operations such as tornado or flooding events. CERT Volunteers also assist
with first-aid, information, lost/found property, suspicious activity monitoring, and general safety at community events such as parades, festivals and fireworks events.

Photo:

Back row, from left: Amanda Corn, Greg Corn, Anthony Clonts, Ryan Fleeman, Paul Poss, Wayne Sonnevelt, John N. Morgan, Dakota Smith, Chip Boyd, Timothy Payne, Eric Eberly, Aaron McMichen, Brandon LaDue, Doug Edwards, Charles Caprio, Michelle Boyce, Shannon Caprio

Front row, from left: Tiffany Clark, Tonia Johnson, Zinna Swann, Nicole McMichen