By Khalida Sarwari
Registration is open for a disaster preparedness program in Saratoga. The session runs from April 21 through May 2.
The classes are part of a Community Emergency Response Team program, known as CERT Academy. The purpose of the program is to educate communities about possible hazards that might result from a local disaster and how to cope with the situation. The program trains participants in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.
“It’s not a question of if something bad happens; it’s a question of when,” said Jim Yoke, emergency services coordinator for the Santa Clara County Fire Department. “We live in earthquake country, and we know that. We also know that first responders are going to be overwhelmed the day something happens, so citizens and residents being trained and organized will be able to supplement the services provided by first responders.”
The idea is to create a cohesive network of volunteers rather than a disjointed effort undertaken by residents, said Yoke.
The training participants receive throughout the two-week academy equips them to become CERT volunteers who are then called upon to assist in their neighborhoods should a disaster strike. Among important skills participants learn are organization, communication and leadership.
Taught by county firefighters, the CERT Academy covers disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness. The benefits of learning these skills from a firefighter are twofold, said Yoke. First, residents are learning from experts on the suubjects, and secondly, the academy provides a space where both residents and firefighters can get to know the other better.
“That level of interaction and familiarity has benefits for everybody,” Yoke said. “We are not just some detached entity. We’re part of the community, and we want to be a part of the community. We want people in the community to know us.”
CERT is a nationwide program that has its roots in Los Angeles. The LA Fire Department started a similar program in the 1980s following the Mexico City earthquake in 1985. The program was later adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The first CERT Academy in Saratoga took place about eight years ago. CERT teams now exist in the following neighborhoods: Argonaut, Bohlman Road, Cox Avenue, Dagmar Drive, Our Lady Of Fatima Villa, Foothill, Quito Road, Saratoga Avenue, Saratoga High School and the Saratoga Retirement Community. Each of these neighborhoods has a leader who is tasked with storing emergency supplies and holding a meeting six times a year. Currently, Saratoga has about 55 active volunteers.
The academy costs $35 and is open to the general public, although those who live and work in Saratoga might benefit most from the classes as they are tailored to the city. The fee covers training as well as materials, including a hard hat and vest.
Training will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Joan Pisani Community Center Tuesday through Thursday. Participants receive certification following a final exercise and graduation ceremony on May 2.
For registration and information, email info@sccfd.org.
Link: Enroll in the CERT Academy and be well prepared in an emergency