Saturday morning, thirteen men and women received their certification as members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) for Brown County.
Led by Dave Fair, CERT Coordinator, the students completed the 20 hour course to receive their certification as CERT members. Brownwood Fire Department, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and Guardian EMS assisted in the certification training serving as subject matter experts. The CERT members will meet on a regular basis each quarter for training during the year.
Those receiving the certification and pictured above were:
- Virginia Brenner-Padgett
- Brittany Greenwood
- John Holmes
- Minessa Mesic
- Almeta Pierce
- A. Randy Pierce
- Billy Stearns
- Floyd Stearns, Chaplain
- Phillip Whitley, Jr.
- James (Jim) Williams
- Rider DeFreese
- Cheri Preston
- Chandra (Sandy) Stearns
The CERT program was started after the attacks on September 11th by Homeland Security to train local citizens to help in the community during disasters. The basic responsibility of CERT is to respond in times of natural or man-made disasters. Members respond in their area of the community or county offering response before emergency responders arrive.
CERT members are trained for light fire suppression, light search and rescue, disaster medical, emotional first aid and response to terrorism.
For example, when a tornado strikes, one area of a county may have more damage than others and emergency responders will be dispatched to that area while other areas wait for help. CERT teams in the areas that have not had emergency professionals respond would arrive and respond to the needs of the people. Another problem that can occur in a tornado or severe storm is blocked roads. CERT members already in that area would respond doing what they are trained for until emergency responders can gain access to the area.
Certificates were presented during a brief graduation by Brad Helbert, Executive Director of the West Central Texas Council of Governments and current President of the Board of Trustees at Howard Payne University.
Helbert along with Brownwood Fire Chief Del Albright and Brent Bush, Brown County Emergency Management Coordinator, were instrumental in reinstituting of CERT. With these new certifications, Brown County is now better prepared to help people in crisis and in times of disaster.
Another CERT Academy will be held in 2011. Those interested in obtaining Community Emergency Response Team certification may contact Dave Fair, CERT Coordinator, for more information by emailing texaschaplain@gmal.com.
