When a tornado or wildfire hits, we expect emergency responders to be there to help out. But with only 1 percent of our population serving as responders, there aren’t enough of them to help everyone. In fact, 95 percent of initial disaster response is done by neighbors —people just like you. That’s why Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) is so important.
Lake County, Cook County and Grand Portage are offering CERT training in January. The course is 20 hours, for ages 12 and up, and will be offered at both Lake and Cook county sites each week. Classes are fun and casual and no experience is necessary. There is no cost for this training.
Topics include disaster preparedness and psychology, basic fire suppression, hazardous materials safety, basic medical triage, light search and rescue, and response organization. You might also help with traffic control, evacuations, coordinating volunteers, donations, shelters, family assistance center, or supporting emergency operations in other ways. It’s a great way to get involved.
The course dates are Saturday, Jan. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Two Harbors or Grand Marais; Tuesday evenings, Jan. 15, 22, 29 and Feb. 5 from 6 to 9 p.m., alternating Silver Bay and Two Harbors; or Thursday evenings, Jan. 17, 24, 31 and Feb. 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. in Grand Marais; and Saturday, Feb. 9, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Silver Bay.
Learn more about CERT at www.citizencorps.gov/cert/. For questions or to register for the class, contact Jim Wiinanen, Cook County Emergency Management director, at jim.wiinanen@co.cook.mn.us or 387-3059. Registration by January 6, 2013 would help with planning.
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