March 10 CERT Academy grads

The Mammoth Lakes Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) announced today that 15 residents graduated from its 5th CERT Academy on Saturday, March 10, 2012.

The training, at the Best Western Hotel in Mammoth Lakes, was held on three consecutive Saturdays and was a collaborative effort of the Mammoth Lakes Police Department, Mammoth Lakes Fire Department, Mono County Public Health Department and CERT Staff.

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when first responders are not immediately available to help.

The 15 new graduates completed 24 contact hours of Emergency and Disaster Training, including Basic Certification in Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness, Light Search and Rescue, Fire Safety, Medical Operations, Public Health, Terrorism, and Disaster Psychology.

Paul Page, CERT training officer, stated, “With these 5th CERT Academy graduates, we have trained more than 100 residents to date since our Team’s inception in 2007.”  White also commented that he is very proud to have such dedicated individuals devoting their time and making a personal commitment to preparing themselves, their family and community during times of disaster.

Congratulations to new the CERT Team Members:  Richard Boccia, Marcus Breitbarth, Claudia Chance, Monique Foster, Cathy Foye, Richard Foye,, Heidi Helbig, Richard Graham, Quart Keyes, Patricia Koepsell, Ray Larsen, Brian Macklin, Jaime Marso, Douglas Reinhart, and Heidi Steenstra.

The next CERT Academy will be scheduled sometime in September 2012.

More information about the Town of Mammoth Lakes CERT is available at www.townofmammothlakescert.com or by calling 760-933-8262.

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Richter, CERT Historian.

Thank You,
Harry R. White
Mammoth Lakes CERT PIO