The newly-formed Brandon Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members received certificates of training completion on Feb. 16. Ron Lapp, Brandon Township supervisor and Bob McArthur, Brandon fire chief presented the documents to 13 members of the team. The CERT will operate under the supervision of the Brandon Fire Department and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The project federal grant funds were received to fund the initial training and equipping the team.
The program included organization for disaster response and the incident command system, types of natural and man-made disasters common to our area, personal and family disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue and conducting casualty triage and evacuation. The training also covered first aid and transport techniques, disaster psychology, CERT role response to Terrorism and two disaster scenario practical excises. The 24 hour course of instruction was presented by Fire Captain Erich Schudlich and CERT Team Leader Lee Stewart.
Members of CERT include Midge Bauman, Philip Cimino, Diane Droste, Myra Fleming, Larry Hayden, Sherrie Holleman, Michael Jordan, Don Kengerski, Jerome Kowalski, John Pasike, Lee Stewart, Sandy Wiley, Sandy Willett and Kay Williams.