Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (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 professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. For more information about CERT, visit FEMA.gov.
For more information about local opportunities:
Paula Towne (State of WA CERT Program Coordinator)
(360) 725-5290 paula.towne@ofm.wa.gov
or
Willie Bence (Director of Jefferson County Emergency Management)
(360) 316-6008 wbence@co.jefferson.wa.us
Student Emergency Response Team Training
Teen CERT members learn readiness and response skills to better identify hazards in their area, help others in the event of a disaster and become leaders in their school.
For more information, go to FEMA’s Teen CERT Program and resources page.
Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center
While this part of the country is not known for hurricanes or tornadoes, it is prone to earthquakes, wildfires, floods, landslides, major winter storms, oil spills, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. How well prepared can we be for any one of those incidents?
The Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has come a long way from its humble beginnings. The EOC is now equipped with electronic features well-suited to a rural county geographically isolated from the large metropolitan areas of Seattle and Tacoma.
Through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Jefferson County has an excellent redundant system for communication, backed up with generators in case of power failures as well as alternate communications in the event of phone outages. There is closed circuit television capability between the county and the City of Port Townsend emergency control centers. Amateur radio operators are set up with local American Radio Emergency System/Radio Amateur Civil Engineering System, (ARES/RACES) volunteers to communicate with over 100 members of the Neighborhood Preparedness groups.
Mutual Aid agreements are in place with local agencies which provides for additional resource sharing should the need arise.
The EOC is fully operational with a compliment of paid and volunteer staff trained to implement the Incident Command System (ICS). This system is best described as a management system of procedures for controlling personnel, facilities, equipment and communications from different agencies to work together towards a common goal in an effective and efficient manner. It is an “all hazards – all risk” approach to managing crisis response operations for emergencies of all sizes, as well as non-crisis events.
During a disaster, the EOC acts as the hub of the wheel comprised of the many and varied communities within Jefferson County. The EOC, in conjunction with local agencies as well as state and federal agencies coordinates the recovery efforts for the impacted areas.
Considering the frequency of winter storms that leave Jefferson County residents without electricity and other necessities, it is important that every individual and household get their own “go-kit” together in preparation for any eventuality. Minimal supplies should include enough water, food, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding for each family member for a 72-hour period of time. Additional supplies should include such things as flashlights, extra batteries, non-electric can opener, battery operated radio, toilet paper, and liquid soap. A complete list of appropriate items to include in a go-kit can be found on various websites, including the following:
Jefferson County Emergency Operations Center
The EOC Section Chiefs and Command Staff meet weekly to fine tune their coordinated efforts to run a smooth operation if and when they are called into action.
Individuals or groups who want to develop preparedness tactics for their specific neighborhoods should call (360) 385-9368 for materials and details.