DeWitt County is setting up a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) sponsored by FEMA to better protect the community, according to Emergency Management Coordinator Billy Jordan Jr.
“We’re taking the first steps to establish CERT here at home, and you can be a part of it,” Jordan said. “CERT volunteers are trained to support their neighbors during emergencies, assist first responders and strengthen community resiliency for families, friends and loved ones.”
Jordan said he began planning to establish the group when he first assumed his position 18 months ago.
”I was hoping to have the program together sooner, but I’ve been working on getting a lot of our emergency plans back up and improving areas,” Jordan said. “I’m a spot now that I can begin to start forming the program.”
Jordan said over the past several years DeWitt County has faced flooding, severe storms, wildfires, hazmat incidents that have left first responders stretched thin.
”CERT acts as a force multiplier, freeing police, fire and EMS to focus on high priority rescues and life threatening emergencies,” Jordan said. “Members can staff shelters and points of distribution, assist with evacuations and traffic control, perform wellness checks, support communication between neighborhoods and the EOC and help damage assessments after storms.”
The skills to be learned are disaster preparedness and organization, fire safety and basic suppression, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, teamwork and communication, Jordan noted.
The training will take place at Victoria Office of Emergency Management, Jordan said.
“By attending training in our neighboring county, you will gain valuable hands-on experience from seasoned instructors and bring those skills back to help build DeWitt County’s own CERT program,” Jordan said.
Volunteers are being sought from across the county, including Cuero, Yorktown, Nordheim, Westhoff, Yoakum and every rural community, Jordan said. No prior experience is needed and groups and people of al ages, including students, are welcome, he added.
The commitment is flexible, members may be called up during disasters, large community events and special exercises. Refresher training and drills will be offered throughout the year.
The Basic CERT Training will be at Victoria County’s facility at 205 N. Bridge St, B-101, in Victoria, Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Monday 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There is no cost to participants.
To register, visit: https://brnw.ch/21wV6s r and search Course G-317 FEMA Student ID (SID) required: https://cdp.dhs.gov/femasid
TDEM Blackboard account required: https://training. tdem.texas.gov For information, contact Billy Jordan at De-Witt County Office of Emergency Management at 361-275-0878 or email [email protected]
