In September, I completed my training as apart of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Chesterfield County, VA. I recommend this training to anyone interested in helping your neighbors during a natural or manmade disaster.
Because the class followed the Louisa, VA Earthquake and Hurricane Irene, most of the conversations focused on those topics-with an occasional mention of Tornados.
The recent early snow storm in the Northeast made me stop and consider a wider use of CERT in a different way of helping community.
Using the principles of CERT, there are three very important roles that CERT members can help their community during the winter season.
1. The first way that a CERT member can help the community during a winter weather event is by first being prepared themselves before a disaster. When the storm went through the Northeast, hundreds of thousands were without power. I thought about my most recent experience without power; we were without power for three days-but the weather was warm. What would happen if it were cold and a foot of snow on the ground?
There are several simple steps to take to prepare for winter from www.ReadyVirginia.gov
· Make a plan. Decide on a meeting place outside of your neighborhood if your family is separated and cannot return home because of closed roads. Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family’s point of contact for emergency communications. With your family, write down your emergency plan – get a free worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
· Get a kit. Start with these basic supplies for winter weather: three days’ food; three days’ water (a gallon per person per day); a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries; and your written family emergency plan. After you have these essential supplies, add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and warm clothing, supplies for special member of your household, and pet items.
· Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should listen to local media for instructions from emergency officials. There may be times when you are advised to stay in place until it is safe to travel. Stay informed about winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions. You can get road condition information 24/7 by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org.
2. The second way a CERT member can help the community is by knowing the community around them and helping others make the needed preparations ahead of time. There maybe those in the community that are elderly or have young children. There also maybe those who do not have family nearby or do not have sufficient means to keep warm if the power goes out. Knowing the community in which you live can go a long way in helping your community in the event a paralyzing snow storm or ice storm comes your way.
3. The final way a CERT member can assist in during a winter weather event is by being available to assist the public safety members in the area. This could take many different forms. From digging out fire hydrants to assisting in basic first aid while waiting for Emergency Vehicles plow through snow. Knowing about your neighborhood, translates to checking on your neighbors following this type of event, simply to make sure that people are warm and that they are not becoming victims of carbon monoxide poisoning from gas heaters inside.
With more people becoming CERT volunteers, it is always comforting to know that there is someone with some understanding of the threats during a disaster is right around the corner. The CERT program works because neighbors help neighbors best.