Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes and Freeholder Pat Colavita speak to graduates of the most recent Community Emergency Response Team program at the Dempster Fire Training Academy in Lawrence on April 12, 2014.
Seventeen local residents graduates from the Community Emergency Response Team training program April 12.
Each year, the county trains new volunteer CERT members through an intensive program designed to teach superlative communication skills as well as proficiency with a variety of emergency management and rescue equipment.
In years past, CERT members have assisted County Emergency Management personnel and law enforcement officers with operations such as flood remediation and search/rescue missions.
Volunteers assisted with the emergency response to the devastating explosion and fire in the South Fork neighborhood in Ewing last month, and in late 2012 proved invaluable during Superstorm Sandy, where they assisted in emergency operations for the duration of the event, which lasted more than a week.
Mercer County offers the course through a partnership with Mercer County Community College and Mercer County Office of Emergency Management.
On the last day of course work, Mercer County Executive Brian Hughes congratulated the graduates on their accomplishments, and thanked them for their commitment to emergency public safety efforts in the county.
“Your participation in the CERT program makes all the difference for county residents in need of assistance during an emergency,” Hughes said. “The support provided by CERT professionals allows this county to carry out highly sophisticated remediation efforts in a variety of emergency situations.”
Mercer County Freeholder Pasquale “Pat” Colavita also attended the ceremony and spoke to the graduates.
With this new influx of graduates, the number of CERT members across the county, including the municipal CERTs, totals more than 400.
Graduates are Asma Taqi (Bordentown); Kathi Loftin, Susan McCormack, Tony Spagnolia (Ewing); Henry Adams Jr., Brian Angelucci, Marjorie Burke-McCann, Andrew Hager, Stephen Vetrano (Hamilton Township); Michael Coco (Hopewell Township); Michael Caddell (Plainsboro); Penelope Chambers, David Sayen (Princeton); JoAnn Baier, Joseph Whitty (Robbinsville); Stanley DeGroote and Judy Gorberg (West Windsor Township).
The concept of CERT was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. CERT members in Mercer County receive nine classroom training sessions followed by a final day of practical training at the Dempster Fire Training Academy in Lawrence. Tuition and supplies are provided through the State and County Homeland Security Grant programs.
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