1000 Hours, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011: Are you trained in disaster response? Are you looking for a way to volunteer your time? If so, the Sussex County Emergency Operations Center wants you to help the community be ready for the next big event.

Residents trained in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) skills are needed as the County continues its efforts to build a local Citizen Corps/CERT program. Created in 2002 by President George W. Bush as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, Citizen Corps provides everyday people an opportunity to learn how to respond to disasters, whether man-made or natural, and use that training to support public safety. Sussex County adopted a volunteer Citizen Corps program in 2007.

This past spring, the County held a two-day session for those interested in receiving CERT training and joining the local Citizen Corps effort. Sussex County EOC is now looking to build on that interest with regular follow-up sessions that would allow participants to review and expand on basic CERT training they have already received.

Topics for the continuing education classes could include first aid, CPR, fire suppression, triage, light search and rescue, and team-building skills. In addition to the ‘refresher’ sessions, special guest speakers from local utilities, the National Weather Service, and public safety organizations would be brought in to talk about their roles in emergency situations. Depending on public interest, sessions will be scheduled at a later date.

For anyone interested in the CERT program, or to be added to our email distribution list, please contact Carl Davis at (302) 858-5302 or at citizencorps@sussexcountyde.gov.

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