CERT Needs Volunteers for Disaster Response

Since 2009, a team of civilians has been ready to answer the call to help local safety forces respond to an emergency. But the serving Mayfield Heights, Mayfield Village and Highland Heights, needs more members to provide proper support.

"We need to expand our team of 24. We are hopeful that we can get to 50 to 75 members. The practical reality is that if there's a disaster, it's going to affect CERT team members. The key is to have large numbers so we can have enough people available," said Paul Berne, Tri-Community CERT executive director.

CERT members will be at Highland Heights Community Day on Saturday to provide information to potential recruits. Information is also available by calling Tri-Community CERT Liaison Officer Jody Widmann at 440-442-2323, Ext. 221, sending email to her at JodyWidmann@MayfieldHeights.org or visiting the website at tricommunitycert.yolasite.com. If enough people are interested, training classes will be scheduled on weeknights this fall.

The free 20-hour training course covers disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search and rescue operations, organizational skills and disaster psychology.

Berne said the end of training features a disaster simulation drill. Last year, CERT members trained at an empty house on Green Road and practiced identifying and shutting off a natural gas line and search and rescue procedures.

"There was a snowstorm, so the simulation became very realistic," Berne said. "Even if you don't ever use this training in a CERT response, it has a practical application to your life."

He cited an example of learning how to properly life debris and brace it appropriately.

Berne stressed that the role of CERT members is to support safety forces rather than rushing into situations to try and save people and becoming victims in the process.

"That's one of the reasons CERT was formed. You're going to have spontaneous volunteers in a disaster. People are going to come out," he said.

CERT members help safety forces organize disaster response efforts, Berne said.

Tri-Community CERT hasn't assisted in a disaster response, but was at the Mayfield Village Cruise Night earlier this summer and assisted with crowd control and walked the event grounds in support of safety forces.

"They are briefed on what we want them to do, their responsibilities, such as getting water to safety officers," Berne said.

One of CERT's goals is to remind people that disasters can strike anywhere at anytime and they need to be prepared.

"We're just trying to create community awareness. We've all felt in this area of the country that we didn't have much of a tornado hazard," he said. However, an event such as the tornado that hit Joplin, Miss. in May could happen here, he added.

"There has been an emergence of a change in weather patterns," Berne said. "People are beginning to understand that we're not isolated."

Senior vice president of Lancer Insurance, Berne has 31 years of experience in claims management, much of that dealing with catastrophes, and is familiar with what can happen.

He said the people who join CERT are motivated by a desire to help others in a time of crisis.

"I think they have a strong sense of community-mindness. They have an interest in the training and increasing their own level of preparedness," he said. "There's also a humanitarian side to them that says I want to be in a position to help my neighbors, my family, my friends, in the event of an emergency."