Tri-Community CERT has Third Graduating Class

The Tri-Community Community Emergency Response Team continues to grow, graduating its third class of volunteers since its inception in 2009.

CERT training was done in nine sessions of about two hours each, covering topics such as disaster fire suppression, search and rescue operations and evaluating injuries.

Eight graduates – Pat Gregoric, Jim Hanculak, Santosh Kolure, Thomas Meder, Susan McCauley, Laura Powell, Richard Powell, Marco Serrano and Tony Watkins – were presented with certificates Thursday at the  Fire Department. Tri-Community CERT covers Mayfield Heights,  and .

Richard Powell joined CERT along with his wife after hearing about the program at a Neighborhood Block Watch meeting. The Mayfield Heights resident said the highlight of training was a simulation drill at the final session.

"For the final one, the old Mayfield Village police station was turned into a disaster scene," he said. "We had to help people and make them comfortable."

At the graduation ceremony, CERT members also were trained in traffic control. Mayfield Heights Police Department Detective Joe Leskovec demonstrated proper gestures to direct traffic and tips to avoid getting clipped by mirrors of passing cars.

Tri-Community Executive Director Paul Berne said a CERT member was asked to assist police with traffic control at the Mayfield Village Cruise Night event last year.

"He immediately said, 'This is not as easy as I thought it would be,'" Berne said.

Berne said Tri-City Community CERT will have another training session when there is a full class of volunteers. For information about CERT, go to the website at http://tricommunitycert.yolasite.com/.