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CERT Volunteers Help the Community!
Publish Date: 7/21/2010 10:00 AM

 

(Registration is now closed for CERT Group 16 starting 08/10/10!)

Columbia County Community Emergency Response Team”
Training Program

 CERT Logo 

Since the Columbia County CERT training program began in 2004, we have had 318 citizens become certified in how to take care of themselves, their families, and help their neighbors in the event of an emergency or disaster. 

 

Group 16, which starts on August 10, 2010 is now full and registration has been closed.  However, if you are interested in helping your community by participating in future classes, please complete the CERT Team Volunteer Training Application and return it to our office to sign up.  Please note the pre-requisites listed in the application package.  We anticipate the next class (Group 17) will begin the latter part of February 2011.
 
Please contact the Columbia County Emergency Services Office at (706) 868-3303 or email
Pam Tucker if you have any questions about the class.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About CERT...

 

CERT training started in Columbia County in January 2004 with citizens from all over Columbia County volunteering their time to learn emergency response skills that make our community safer.

 

 

The CERT program includes training in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, hazardous materials, disaster medical operations (such as triage, treating life threatening injuries, assessment, treatment and hygiene), light urban search and rescue, radio operations, team organization, disaster psychology and a disaster simulation exercise.

Seasoned instructors from the Emergency Management Agency, Martinez-Columbia Fire Rescue, Gold Cross EMS, Grovetown Department of Public Safety, Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, and the Augusta Chapter of the American Red Cross volunteer their time to conduct the training.

When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, (who can easily become overwhelmed in major events), provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site.   CERT members are also called upon to assist other counties and states during major disasters.

CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community, such as making public presentations, assisting with public safety awareness events, and assisting with community disaster exercises.

The CERT training program is provided to Columbia County citizens who are 18 years or older at no cost.  This program is 100% funded by Homeland Security Grant funds. 


 

 CERT Training Schedule

 CERT Instructors

 

Name

Topic

Pam Tucker

CERT Program Overview and Emergency Preparedness

Patricia Champion and Rusty Welsh

CERT Team Organization

Dennis Jones

Disaster Psychology

Rusty Welsh

Radio Communications

Danny Kuhlmann and Brent Willis

Fire Safety and Hazardous Material Awareness

Sandra Culver

Disaster Medical Operations

David Bullard and Wayne Kent

Light Search & Rescue Operations

Brent Willis and Rusty Welsh

Ø       Distribution of CERT Kits/Gear

Ø       Disaster Simulation

Ø       Final Exam

 

CERT Group 16 Training Schedule

DATE

TIME

TOPIC

08/10/10

6 pm to 9 pm

CERT Program Overview and Emergency Preparedness

08/17/10

6 pm to 9 pm

CERT Team Organization

08/24/10

6 pm to 9 pm

Disaster Psychology and Radio Communications

08/31/10

6 pm to 9 pm

Fire Safety

09/07/10

6 pm to 9 pm

Hazardous Material Awareness

09/14/10

6 pm to 9 pm

Disaster Medical Operations

09/21/10

6 pm to 9 pm

Light Search & Rescue

09/25/10

7 am to 12 pm

Distribution of CERT Kits/Gear, Disaster Simulation, and Final Exam

10/05/10

6:00 pm

Graduation / Presentation of Certificates @Commission Meeting

 

 

 


 

HOW CERT MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE COMMUNITY! 

Columbia County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members have participated in several major projects, both in Columbia County and serving in Gulfport, MS to help Hurricane Katrina victims.  Below is a brief description of how their "willingness to serve" is helping our community. 

  • CERT members assist with training exercises by helping to apply moulage, assisting with MOC and EOC operations, serving as simulated victims, and participating in the exercises to practice skills.
  • Twenty-nine (29) CERT graduates volunteered to participate in the local production of a new CERT Training Video that will be used nationwide to train new CERT members.  The video required members to demonstrate all of the roles that CERT would fill in a disaster, including emergency preparedness at their homes, fire safety, emergency medical operations, search and rescue, disaster psychology and operating the Mobile Operations Center (MOC).   
  • Assisting other departments, such as the Forestry Services office, with helping to issue burn permits at the end of the open burning ban.  
  • Volunteering to serve on the Mobile Operations Center (MOC) Operations Team.  These individuals can mobilize and set up the MOC for on-scene command during emergencies and disasters. 
  • Train in Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and 3-1-1 operations to help during emergency activations. 
  • Individual CERT members provide presentations to community groups, assist with safety day events, and volunteer in many other ways all during the year.
  • CERT members helped in the June 2010 "Commodity Flow Study" by surveying trucks carrying hazardous materials at our Interstate 20 eastbound and westbound weigh stations to determine what types and amounts of hazardous commodities are driving through our county every day. 
  • Deploying to disasters across Georgia or other states.  Thirteen (13) CERT graduates volunteered to deploy to Gulfport, Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina left the area in shambles.  They left on Friday, September 9th at 8:00 a.m. to assist the State of Mississippi in Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts.  The team was deployed through GEMA and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to serve in the capacity of a “Community Relations Team” to work with getting supplies to victims in one of the hardest hit areas...Gulfport, Mississippi.  This was the only CERT team in the nation to assist with this disaster.

    CERT Deployment-Group

     

    Standing from left:   John Tucker, Margaret Williams, Jan DeAsis, Susan Hayden, Stephanie McWhorter, Joe Matosian, Ed Campbell, and KauVonda Amos (Mississippi EMA CERT Program Manager)
    Kneeling from left:  John Harlan, Gwen Wood, Lorraine Lynch, Jill Harpe, Bob Crutchfield, and Kathryn Crutchfield

    CURRENT CERTIFIED CERT MEMBERS

     

      **Steve Aaronson
      Ben Adkins
      Susy Allen

      Margaret Alligood
      ~Cynthia Ammar
      ~Max Ammar
      Andy Anderson
      Brian Armstrong
      Dan Armstrong
      #*Elissa Armstrong
      Angela Banez
      Maritess Banez
      *Mario Banez
      Robin Banta
      ~Don Beasley
      ~Loma Beasley
      Dan Beckman
      John Allen Beckman
      Mark Beckman
      Paula Beckman
      Wanda Bell
      *Rich Belles
      *Virginia Berkhimer
      Maria Bezubic
      Shena Binns
      Wesley Black
      Lyn Bonner
      #*Laurie Booher
      #~*Sam Booher
      Drew Botkin
      #**Debra Bozeman
      *Todd Brandenburg
      Todd Brantley
      ~*Andrew "Drew" Brejda
      David Brill
      Clint Brotemarkle
      *Charlie Brown (In Loving Memory)
      *Felicia Brown
      Felicia Brown
      Johnny Brown
      Kent Bruntz
      Betty Bugg
      Matthew Bugg
      Helen Burton
      ~Edward Campbell
      #Brad Cansler
      Penny Carpentar
      ~*Ramon Carroll
      *William P. Caskey
      **Bob Cipperly
      Jason Claar
      Gene Clark
      Sylvia Clark
      #Aretha Clayton
      Richard Clegg
      Dennis Cokenour
      *Anthony Colbert
      **David Coley
      Jasper Cooke
      Cynthia Cooper
      Eric Crawford
      #**Kathryn Crutchfield
      #**Robert Crutchfield
      Richard Daniel
      Scott Daniel
      Judy Davidson
      Joann Davis
      Roger Davis
      Judy Daviscokenour
      *Jan DeAsis
      Royal DeAsis
      Roy DeBolt
      ~Mary Desormeaux
      Gina Dickson
      Todd Dickson
      John Diefenderfer
      Kathy Diefenderfer
      Marie Dill
      Michele Dillard
      ~*James Dolce
      Dick Donnelly
      Margaret Doss
      Gregory Dross
      Tina Dross
      *Jo Dyke
      Gloria Eargle
      Richard Eargle
      *David Earnest
      *Cristo Eclavea
      Chuck Elliott
      Dick Embry
      Betty English
      Mark Erbland
      Johnny Evans
      John Fender
      ~*Bill Ferguson
      Larry Flanagan
      Matt Frame
      Cheryl “Cricket” Frederick
      Amanda Freeman
      Wendall Freeman
      *Charles Frick
      Linda Fulmer
      *Cheryl Garcia
      Richard Garniewicz

      *Clarence Gavitt
      John Geeter
      Cindy Gilbert
      Delores Gillis
      Ron Goldberg
      Rebekah Gray-Henderson
      Troy Green
      *James Greene
      *Marla Greene
      Carolyn Grey
      Caroline Guay
      David Guay
      Jospeh Guay

      *Ravinder Gujral
      Tom Gunnels
      #Peter Gustin
      Diana Hamilton
      Kip Hamilton
      ~*John Harlan
      John Harlan, Jr.
      Jill Harpe
      Lori Harrell
      George Harrison
      #**Susan Hayden
      Richard Haygood
      Reid Henderson
      Kitty Hernlen
      Karen Hickman
      Earl Hilson
      **John Holden
      Bette Holzberg
      Gene Homschek
      Sheila Homschek
      Gail Hoover
      Donald Horton
      Andy Howell
      Barbara Howell
      Suzie Hughes
      Ziad Husein
      *Tom Hyer
      #*Pete Igel
      Evette Ingwersen
      #~David Iverson
      Curtis James
      **David Jewell
      **Donna Jewell
      ~Tammy John
      Krista Johnson
      Troy Johnson
      Brandy Jones
      #~Carrie Jones
      Kendall Jones
      David Jones
      *Dennis E. Jones
      Glorious Jones
      #Jerry Jones
      *Rip Jones
      **Thomas Kane
      Robyn Kelley
      Gretchen Keneson
      William Keneson
      *Michael Kennedy
      Margaret Kim
      David Koch
      Jose Lantingua
      *Tara LeMay
      Mike Lemaire
      Andrew Lines
      Angela Lowe
      Lani Luciano
      Jose’ Lugo
      *Dorothy Luke
      *Lorraine Lynch
      Kenric Lynn
      *Stan Maciaszek
      #*Michael Maloney
      *Sherry Martin
      Valerie Martin
      *Douglas Massey
      ~Joseph Matosian
      Janice Matthews
      Daniel Mayne
      Robert McCorkell
      Jennifer McCracken
      ~Rick McDonald
      Clifford McGhee
      Georgia McKain
      Jean McKain
      Alan McKenney
      Ben McWhorter
      Scott McWhorter
      Stephanie McWhorter
      Eric Meaders
      #**James M. Mecredy
      #**Lucette Mecredy
      Martin Meinshausen
      Jenna Miller
      Travis Miller
      Iris Miranda
      #John W. Morgan
      Pete Mourfield
      **David Muntz
      James Murray
      **Jim Murray
      Martin Murray
      *John Murrell
      Tim Nelken

      Dana Nelms
      Laurie Nerling
      Dennis Niehoff
      *Ann Nordin
      **Calvin Norris
      **Tonji Norris
      Doug Nunley
      Daniel O'Brien
      Michael O’Byrne
      ~*George O'Connell
      Vincent Pacchiana
      Betty Palmer
      Robert Payne
      Ryan “Mike” Peel
      Francisco Perez
      #Tony Perrotto
      *George Perry
      Bill Pettyjohn
      *Tom Phair
      Christopher Pierson
      Stephanie Pilcher
      Jerry Pitman
      *Chester Plecha
      Cherie Portinga
      Nathan Portinga
      Darlene Pressley
      Vicki Proefrock
      Henry Pruett
      Lauren Rabb
      Emory Rabitsch
      William Ragnow
      Anthony Rakofsky
      Shelley Redd
      Kimberly Richard
      Bob Richards
      Kathy Riley
      Bruce Robinson
      Donald Robinson
      Mel Rosabal
      Christa Royal
      Shelly Rucker
      Zaki Rucker
      *Richard Runnels
      ~Mark Salter
      Gwenda Sanderson
      Daniel Sankey
      Bobbie Sue Schiffhauer
      Lee Schiffhauer
      David Schwartzkopf
      Steve Shelt
      #~*David Silver
      #~Mollie Silver
      Leonard Simmons
      Hugo Sinclair
      Dawn Sindelair
      Scott Smith
      Brett Smith
      Joel Smith
      #*John T.Y. Smith
      *Patricia Smith
      *Stephen J. Smith
      Tanya Smith
      Nancy Snyder
      Cheryl Spindler
      Todd Spindler
      Dave Stewart
      Andrea Stevens
      Matt Stevens
      Rachel Stith
      Joan Stoddard
      John Sweat
      Jackie Tatum
      Randall Tatum
      Julie Terwilliger
      #~**Ira Tindall
      Jorge Thompson
      Kenneth Turner
      Miran Tyrrell
      Shari Tyson
      *Janet Vaughn
      Raam Vichare
      Eden Vickrey
      Basil Vintinner
      ~**Bob Waldera
      Troy Ward
      Jeffrey A. Ward
      Wesley Wehunt
      *Roland Weisser
      Thomas Weisz
      Earl Welsh
      Kristina Wendorf
      ~**Margaret Willliams
      Shannon Williams
      ~*Teri Williams
      #*Aleta Williamson
      #*Jim Williamson
      Katherine Williford
      YeSun Wiltse
      *Mike Wiltse
      William Wingfield
      Marcie Wingo
      Douglas Wood
      *Gwen Wood
      ~Eddie Writer
      ~Kim Writer
      Michelle Zupan

      *Completed the Refresher Training in October 2006.
      **Completed the Refresher Training in October 2006 and November 2007.
      ~Completed the Refresher Training in November 2008.
      #Completed the Refresher Training in November 2009.

       

     

    GROUP 1
    Group 1 2004 

    GROUP 2
    Group 2 2004

    GROUP 3
    Group 3 2004

    GROUP 4
    Group 4 2004

     GROUP 5
    Goup 5 - 2005

     
    GROUP 6
    Group 6 - 2005

    GROUP 7
    Group 7-2006

     GROUP 8
    Group 8-2006 

    GROUP 9
    Group 9 - 2007

    GROUP 10
    Group 10 - 2007
    GROUP 11
    Group 11 2008
    GROUP 12
    Group 12 - 2008
    GROUP 13
    CERT Group 13
    GROUP 14
    CERT Group 14
    GROUP 15
    CERT Group 15 - 2010
     
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

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