News and Information

28 May 2010 -   Congratulations to new CERT Graduates!

They’ve Been CERT-ified

Brier, Washington (June 9, 2010) — On May 27, 11 people graduated from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training held at the Emergency Services Coordinating Agency (ESCA). 

The new graduates were (pictured): Lyda Barr, Tom Chow, Dennis Hutton, Athena Marshall, Garth Reasby, Heather Reasby, Frank Zenk, Lynn Zenk.  (Not pictured:  Dawn Cordero, Sarah Stewart.)

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.”

“It was a good Final Exercise, and it proves the benefit of this program,” commented Jamie Gravelle, CERT Program Manager.   “We had nine people who went through the entire course together.  We were also able to host a student from the Marysville program with her make-up Final as well as a student from one of ESCA’s previous sessions.  It shows the consistency of the training when students are able to work together from different sessions and partner programs.”

 ESCA offers the CERT program three times during the year.  The next class will be in September 2010. 

 Former CERT graduates are welcome to attend classes as refreshers or to participate in the ongoing training opportunities offered through the CERT Leader volunteer program.

For additional information about ESCA programs, contact: Jamie Gravelle or go to the ESCA website at: www.esca1.com.