CITY ANNOUNCES OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM TRAINING
(12/31/2008) NEW HAVEN- The City of New Haven, Office of Emergency Management will be offering members of the community the opportunity to become certified as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members.
CERT is a U.S. Department of Homeland Security program that helps educate citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster medical operations, CPR, and shelter management. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their home, neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders may not immediately be available to help. Local government prepares for everyday emergencies, however during a disaster, emergency services can be overwhelmed.
“CERT is a practical approach to emergencies and disasters where Citizens can truly make a difference,” said Mayor John DeStefano, Jr.
The new CERT program titled “The First Class” is set to start on March 3, 2009. All classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-9:00 pm for a period of approximately ten weeks. Saturday morning training is required for all participants. The program is expected to conclude during a formal graduation event during the week of May 18, 2009.
The CERT program was made available to the City of New Haven through a grant award from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security for $2,000. The City also received equipment and academic materials for each student from the State. Each Candidate will be required to successfully complete a background investigation prior to acceptance. This Citizen Corps program is limited to 30 students. A second class is being planned pending availability of resources.
For additional information and to apply for the program please contact Rick Fontana at the City of New Haven Emergency Operations Center at 946-8224 or rfontana@newhavenct.net.
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Contact Name: Jessica Mayorga
Contact Email: jmayorga@newhavenct.net
Contact Phone: 203-946-7660
