In March 2008, Rush County received a Homeland Security Grant that was used to purchase equipment and training supplies for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

A few months later, through the combined efforts of the LEPC and the Rush County EMA, 14 citizens began a four month comprehensive and hands-on instruction and training program and gained certification as the county’s first CERT team.

Team members completed more than 27 hours of in-class instruction on a variety of issues including disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, organization and disaster psychology.

Following the instruction, members were then given a comprehensive exam designed to test their knowledge on what they learned. That exam was followed by a disaster exercise that put to test the physical requirements of the program.

Nearly a year later, and following a number of follow-up training exercises, the county is ready to form a second CERT team.

Applications are currently being accepted with training scheduled to begin in January 2010. Interested parties may pick up applications at the EMA office in the Rush County Courthouse.

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.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.