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Community
Emergency Response Team (CERT)
APPLICATION's For the 2006 Academy Coming SOON:
Training is held at the Lacy Lakeview Community Center, 505 East Craven. Classes are held on Thursday evenings for eight
(8) weeks and end with an actual hands-on scenario. Class typically begins
at 6:30 p.m. and is three hours each night. The final scenario is typically 3-4
hours. Complete the
application, and bring to the Police Department, 503 E. Craven for
processing. If you have questions, contact Chief Dennis A. Stapleton @
254-799-2479 ext 232 or dennis_stapleton@lacy-lakeview.org. You may also
contact Fire Marshal Nathan Kelley @ 254-799-2479 ext. 224. We are excited
to continue to expand this training program to our community.
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Lacy Lakeview Community Emergency Response Team
Program is to establish a cadre of specially trained volunteers, referred
to as "CERT members", to provide manpower to augment emergency
response personnel.
HOW TO JOIN LACY LAKEVIEW'S CERT
A. Application: Click here for application (Word format)
B. Security Clearance
A background investigation is conducted and maintained on all CERT
members. A driver's license check and criminal history check will be
conducted. To become a CERT Member, the applicant shall complete an
application and pass all security requirements.
C. Residence Requirement
The applicant shall live in McLennan County, and in
or near the City of Lacy
Lakeview.
D. Training Requirements
Members must be willing to devote themselves to attend the initial
training and monthly training afterwards. See info below:
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
It shall be a requirement of all applicants to complete the
training listed below:
-
- Disaster
Preparedness
- Fire
Safety
- Disaster
Medical Operations
- Light
Search and Rescue Operations
- CERT
Organization
- Disaster
Psychology
- Terrorism
and CERT
- Course
Review and Disaster Simulation
Training is typically conducted on
Thursday nights from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for eight (8) weeks at the Civic Center on East
Craven. The Disaster Simulation is conducted in the City of Lacy Lakeview, and is made as real to life as possible.
Training continues after the initial CERT academy. The City of Lacy Lakeview also coordinates monthly training exercise with the City of Waco CERT. Further
training is provided to develop skills and enhance each member's ability to
remain prepared.
PARTICIPATION
A CERT Member will be required to participate in functions when
called upon. Excessive absenteeism may cause the removal from the program.
When called upon, the CERT Member is charged with the responsibility of
responding to assist the City of Lacy Lakeview in emergency and non-emergency events. CERT Members will be
required to meet monthly for ongoing training. A member must make seventy
five percent (75%) of all meetings and events to remain in good standing.
CERT Members will also be involved with local drills and exercises. They
will serve upon request at any events hosted by the City of Lacy Lakeview.
For more information, Contact
Chief Dennis A. Stapleton
254-799-2479
HISTORY:
The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the City of Los
Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. They recognized that citizens would
very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic
disaster. Accordingly, the LAFD decided that some basic training in
disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens
to survive until responders or other assistance could arrive. The Whittier Narrows
earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further,
it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet immediate
post-disaster needs.
The training program that the LAFD initiated proved to be so
beneficial that the Federal Emergency management Agency (FEMA) felt that
the concept and the program should be made available to communities
nationwide. In 1994, the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), in
cooperation with the LAFD, expanded the CERT materials to make the
applicable to all hazards.
In 2003, President Bush asked all Americans to volunteer in the
service of their country. The Citizen Corps program was created to
spearhead this effort to harness the power of every individual through
education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer,
stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism,
crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds. CERT was selected
as one of the primary programs offered to the American public to meet this
challenge. In any major disaster or crisis, historically, many types of
individuals have been quick to volunteer their special services and skill
to meet the common need.
The City of Lacy
Lakeview established a
CERT program in 2004. The program is co-sponsored by the Heart of Texas
Council of Governments (HOTCOG). Each program is basically developed to
meet the needs of their community. In Lacy Lakeview, volunteer members will
work within the City of Lacy
Lakeview Emergency Management Office. The Chief of Police and Fire Services is the coordinator.
A CERT
member is an individual who has special skills useful in volunteer work before
and during an emergency or disaster, has volunteered those skills in
advance, has completed a course of basic skills training has been certified
by the Chief of Police and Fire Services of the City of Lacy Lakeview.
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