CERT volunteers ready for emergencies

The federal government mandated that the Community Emergency Response Team be established nationwide after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The theory was that after a disaster, such as terrorist attack, pandemic, hazardous materials spill, train wreck, flood, fire or other major emergency, many factors, such as the number of victims, communications failures, and road blockages, may prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect almost immediately through 9-1-1.

“The idea is that citizens may have to rely on each other for help to meet their immediate and life-sustaining needs, ” said Bill Kerr, a retired U.S. Army sergeant, who coordinates CERT training and its volunteers in Green Valley.

Since 9/11, the Pima County Office of Emergency Management has collaborated with cities, towns, Indian nations, fire districts, hospitals and other private and public agencies to coordinate and promote this training.

Locally, training is conducted three times a year with classes held at the Green Valley Fire District Administration Building at 1285 W. Encanto. The training is free to the public. A new series of classes, which runs for eight weeks, will start at 6 p.m. on on Jan. 17. For more information on the classes or to sign up, call Kerr at 399-1234.