PHOTOS COURTESY OF MH CERT , GILROY CERT , AND MHL OFFICE OF EMERGENCY SERVICES |
Emergency Managers . “ Without the wonderful , hardworking CERT volunteers , our program would not be as successful as it is . Their service to the community is greatly appreciated .”
According to Ponce , “ The CERT mission is to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people . In an emergency you have to make rapid decisions based on an assessment of the needs around you . Training helps you do the right thing even when your natural instinct is to do something different .”
Colin Tanner heads up training for the Gilroy CERT program . His day job is Active Shooter / Violent Intruder prevention and response training , and emergency management training , for a nonprofit serving the public and private sectors . He wants the CERT program to be a mirror of the community it serves .
“ All are welcome regardless of their capabilities . Not everyone can do every job , but there is a job for everyone .”
According to Tanner , the first unit on Disaster Preparedness teaches about natural and man-made hazards in our area and the network of first responders who lead efforts to deal with them . Participants learn that being prepared means having five to seven days ’ worth of emergency supplies at home , additional supplies at the office , and a backpack with about three days ’ worth of supplies stowed in their cars .
“ It starts to sink in that they could be on their own for many days , and that disaster relief is not designed to restore them to the lifestyle they ’ re accustomed to , it ’ s designed for survival ,” Tanner said . “ If they lack food and water , they ’ ll get a gallon of water and two pre-packaged , ready-to-eat meals ( MREs ) per day per person .
And it ’ s not just food and water , but copies of important documents , cash , prescription medications , eyeglasses , provisions for household pets , a radio , tents and sleeping bags — things we may need to survive when disaster turns life upside down .
CERT training includes a unit on Fire Safety led by Gilroy Fire Captain Randy Wong , who volunteers his free time to teach this unit for the Gilroy and Morgan Hill CERT programs . Units on CERT organization and operations are taught by Ponce , and there ’ s also a unit on terrorism response .
Tanner described how , in the unit on Disaster Medical Operations ( DMO ), “ the room gets quiet as trainees realize that DMO is not first aid . It ’ s about increasing the odds of survival using simple , life-saving steps in response to everything from an auto accident to a wildfire .”
CERT volunteers approach emergency response regionally and get to know each other through monthly trainings . “ In a large-scale event , resources are coordinated from the Emergency Operations Center ,” Ponce said . “ When that model is activated , CERT falls under the Fire / Rescue Branch . The coordination of local and regional resources is key , and the volunteers are a vital resource .”
Morgan Hill CERT trainer Larry W . Carr is a former military and commercial pilot . He and other CERT volunteers meet once a year with the South County Airport Pilots Association to practice emergency airlift operations at San Martin Airport .
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CERT Trainers ( l-r ) Sherry and Mike Purser with Gail and Larry Carr at MH National Night Out 2017 . |
Colin Tanner , CERT providing Courtesy Transport at Gilroy Garlic Festival 2017 . |
Morgan Hill OES Coordinator , Jennifer Ponce with emergency response team . |
CERT Fire Extinguisher Training
Colin Tanner ( l ) leading a Gilroy CERT training on Triage
Diaster Medical Operations CERT Disaster Simulation
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