Lucas County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
CERT: Community Emergency Response Teams
Focus on Safety
Toledo Magazine, June 2004
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"We want our citizens in Lucas County better prepared," says Lt. Victor Ellis of the Special Operations Bureau of the Toledo Fire Department. "If we have a natural or manmade disaster that could overwhelm police and fire, we need to know that there's someone in the neighborhood who can help until we could get there. It's a preparedness issue for us."
Jean Priest, who was a student in the first training class in September, 2003, says, "I can make sure I'm safe, my family's safe, and help my neighbors, without causing injury to others." Ms. Priest, who is a division secretary at Owens, says she was eager to take the course. "Because of 9/11, everyone should know what to do in case of an emergency, and I felt that I was not prepared." She says that she and her husband are also business owners, and she feels it is important to have this information in case any of her employees or customers require assistance.
Nearly a year has gone by since her CERT training, and Ms. Priest is still very involved in the program, participating as a "victim" for other students in training.
CERT classes are held every month, with 40 participants per class. Classes are purposely kept small because there is so much hands-on training involved. To date, 280 people from all walks of life have taken the training. Anyone who works or lives in Lucas County is eligible to participate in the free program.
All sessions take place on the campus of Owens Community College. The field exercise takes place at the College's crime scenario house.
Linda Stacy, vice president of the workforce and community services division at Owens, says, "It gives people a feeling of control. That's something that we lost after 9/11. This gives people a sense of control over their lives and their safety.
After nearly a year, has Ms. Priest had to use her training? "Luckily, no," she says. "I'm prepared, I'm ready, but thankfully, no, we haven't had a tornado or flood. "But if it would happen, I'm ready."
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