Fall 2005
GUEST COLUMN

CERT Enhances Emergency Preparedness

By Herbert Caravella

In the summer of 2004, the Aberdeen Township Office of Emergency Management under the direction of Township Manager Mark Coren decided to establish a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program in Aberdeen. 

The CERT program trains people to be better prepared to respond to emergency

Councilman Tom Perry (2nd from l.) was among members of the first CERT class completing training last December.

situations in their communities.  When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that  enhance community safety.  CERTs have been used elsewhere in Monmouth County to search for missing children and assist with environmental emergencies. 

Twenty-nine volunteers from all walks of life began training in October 2004.  The 20-hour curriculum established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) included instruction in disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, disaster psychology and team organization, and terrorism. Classes were taught by emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and law enforcement officers.  The training concluded with a hands-on practical exercise in December at the Aberdeen Fire Department training grounds.  In May 2005, a second class of CERT volunteers completed training. Upon graduation, all members receive emergency equipment provided by the New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management. 

It is important to keep CERT members active and involved. Continued training is one method of accomplishing this. Aberdeen CERT members have received additional training in traffic control, search methods, shelter management, and communications, while participating in exercises in Holmdel and Keansburg, and the TOPOFF 3 program at Brookdale Community College.

Under the guidance of the Monmouth County Office of Emergency ManagementÕs CERT coordinator, the Aberdeen CERT program is exploring a regional approach to future CERT operations and training. This would allow CERTs from surrounding communities to pool their resources for response and training.

Herbert Caravella, a longtime township employee and volunteer firefighter, was designated as the Aberdeen CERT program coordinator.  For more information on CERT or to participate, contact Deputy Chief John T. Powers, Emergency Management Coordinator, at 732-583-4200 ext. 221, or Mr. Caravella, at ext. 799.