In 2012 Strawberry Creek Lodge was lucky to have a CERT-trained resident willing to head the Tenants Organization (TA) Disaster Planning sub-committee and to implement special-project work sessions to help us deal with emergency situations. It is now time to re-evaluate the original decisions about emergency protocols and inspection of current equipment and resident usage. Our TA considers this a high priority.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers to train others about disaster preparedness - the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
It has been awhile since the last major earthquake in Northern California. Nonetheless, even the word “earthquake” evokes avoidance. Not here! Group leader Ann Valliant has our residents trained in first-response tactics, location of emergency doors and routes for ambulatory and disabled residents, putting up canopy tents for temporary shelter, etc. The Project Committee gave away 99 Grab & Go kits at SCL in the summer of 2021, procured from the Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network. Each of these red multi-pocket backpacks contains a radio/flashlight/charger, some first aid and personal protective supplies, some food & water.
Committee members have recently been been very clever in assuring a willing audience for training in how to restart generators, and to get residents to sign up for individual CERT training sessions in the next several months. Their most recent meeting started with a long interactive circus performance, before getting to the heart of the matter: scheduling residents for upcoming Generator-Restart procedures and the 20-hour CERT training sessions so more people will have disaster training and healthcare skills in the future !
