Earlier this week, 14 Community Emergency Response Team members logged their final classroom training session.

During the past three and a half months, team members have completed nearly 27 hours of comprehensive and hands-on instruction covering a variety of issues including disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, organization and disaster psychology.

Following the final in-class instruction Monday, members were then given a comprehensive exam designed to test their knowledge and what they have learned.

Following a three-hour disaster exercise Saturday the county’s initial trained CERT team will hold a course review and disaster simulation that will put to test the physical requirements of the program January 17.

During the simulation exercise it is expected that county and city officials, along with volunteer fire department members in the county, will be on hand to get a look at the training team members have received.

It is anticipated that the CERT team will be called upon in the future to assist professional response units in the event of a disaster or weather emergency in the county.

The concept for CERT began following a series of serious forest fires that struck southern Californian in 1985. Trained teams were first utilized a few years later following the Whitter, Calif. earthquake in 1987.

Since that time more than 8,000 individuals and 225 teams have been trained in California alone. Following the success and availability of the teams, the Federal Emergency Management Agency felt that teams should be formed in communities nationwide.

The training is designed for members to prepare themselves, their families and neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster — and the purpose of CERT is to stimulate interest in community safety at the grass roots level.

The teams match the needs of emergency responders with their skills and abilities and the disaster or need at hand.

Trainer Chuck Kemker noted that the training is not a one-time event.

“The skills learned will be reinforced through follow-up training and practice,” he said.

Applications are currently being accepted for a second class. It is anticipated that a second team will begin instruction during the spring of 2009.

Applications can be picked up at the EMA office in the Rush County Courthouse.