In March 2008, Rush County received a Homeland Security Grant that was used to purchase equipment and training supplies for a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
A few months later, through the combined efforts of the LEPC and the Rush County EMA, 14 citizens began a four month comprehensive and hands-on instruction and training program and gained certification as the county’s first CERT team.
Team members completed more than 27 hours of in-class instruction on a variety of issues including disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, organization and disaster psychology.
Following the instruction, members were then given a comprehensive exam designed to test their knowledge on what they learned. That exam was followed by a disaster exercise that put to test the physical requirements of the program.
Nearly a year later, and following a number of follow-up training exercises, the county is ready to form a second CERT team.
Applications are currently being accepted with training scheduled to begin in January 2010. Interested parties may pick up applications at the EMA office in the Rush County Courthouse.
The concept for CERT began following a series of serious forest fires that struck southern Californian in 1985. Trained teams were first utilized a few years later following the Whitter, Calif. earthquake in 1987.
Since that time more than 8,000 individuals and 225 teams have been trained in California alone. Following the success and availability of the teams, the Federal Emergency Management Agency felt that teams should be formed in communities nationwide.
The training is designed for members to prepare themselves, their families and neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster — and the purpose of CERT is to stimulate interest in community safety at the grass roots level.
The teams match the needs of emergency responders with their skills and abilities and the disaster or need at hand.
Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.
News
Applicants sought for second county CERT team
Training to begin in January
- News
-
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Rush County Economic and Community Development Corporation Executive Director Jim Finan has announced that the Rush County Chamber of Commerce and ECDC will not be merging.
-
RCS adds to Rainy Day Fund
The Rush County Schools Board of Trustees met Wednesday night and, among other things, voted to move $550,000 into the corporation's Rainy Day Fund, which is basically the local school system's savings account.
-
Air Evac leaving Rushville base
Nearly four years to the day that Air Evac Lifeteam began operation from a Rushville base, the medical air transport operation will leave our community.
-
Teams sought for 2012 Relay for Life
Nearly a month after the annual kick off and three weeks before the first scheduled team captain meeting (March 1), local organizers are still hoping to expand the number of participants in this year's local Relay for Life.
-
Boys and girls basketball sign-ups underway
Sign-ups for the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County boys and girls ages five through second grade basketball will run through Feb. 29. These leagues will run the five Saturdays in March.
-
Youth in Philanthropy fund grant application deadline
Garry Cooley, executive eirector of the Rush County Community Foundation, has announced that the grant application deadline for the Youth in Philanthropy Fund is 4 p.m. March 1.
-
Lady Lions eliminate Lady Knights
The goal in the tournament is to advance and that is what the Lady Lions did Tuesday at Batesville with a 53-50 victory over South Dearborn.
-
The wonders of wood
Outside the wood shop door on Wednesday afternoons, kids at the Boys & Girls Club of Rush County line up for their turn inside the room where planks of wood become boxes, benches and shelves between 4 and 6 p.m.
-
Statehouse action resumes after Super Bowl break
After a time-out to accommodate out-of-town Super Bowl visitors, the Indiana General Assembly is back in session to tackle legislation that had been bottlenecked by a contentious labor bill.
-
Rice is Herman Freed Award recipient
Rush County Sheriff's Department deputy Alan Rice recently graduated from the Indiana law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Plainfield.
- More News Headlines
-
Merger off between Chamber, ECDC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
Pentagon: Allow Women Closer to Front Lines
LA School in Sex Abuse Scandal Reopens
Raw Video: Italy's Mount Etna Bursts Into Life
Greeks March; Angry Despite Debt Deal
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
