Emergency Services Coordinating Agency

Twenty-one people in the south Snohomish and north King Counties area increased their personal preparedness by attending Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) classes offered by the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA). 

The CERT students received 24-hours of classroom instruction over an eight week period.  The course covered information on fire safety, urban search and rescue, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, and terrorism.  The course final provided an opportunity to practice the new skills and knowledge with a disaster scenario that included an “earthquake” and multiple “victims.”

Jamie Gravelle, the CERT Program Manager, explained that CERT training is to help people prepare for the first several days after a major disaster.  “Immediately after a large-scale earthquake or other emergency, Fire and Police will have their hands full.  They’ll be focusing on life-threatening situations first.” said Gravelle.  “People have to be ready to take care of themselves and their families for a while.  That’s where CERT comes in.  It increases skills and knowledge, and people graduate the course with at least a basic personal response plan in place.”

 ESCA serves as the emergency management agency for nine member cities and is an integral part of each city’s emergency management organization.  ESCA staff works with the cities to provide direction and coordination in developing and maintaining local emergency operations plans.  ESCA also conducts public education through CERT training and public presentations.