Members of Sunshine Community Health Center’s Safety Committee, Facilities Department, and Emergency Response Team recently participated in the Willow CERT Training hosted at the Willow Community Center. This vital training event culminated on November 10th, with 22 participants successfully completing the Hybrid FEMA CERT Basic Course.
The CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program is an essential resource for communities, providing education on disaster preparedness and training volunteers in fundamental disaster response skills. These skills include fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT volunteers play a crucial role in assisting professional responders during disaster situations and promoting community safety.
A Comprehensive Training Experience
To graduate, participants completed a 12-hour online portion of the course before attending a two-day, in-person skills review and disaster simulation exercise. Subject matter experts, including EOC Specialists from the Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services, along with representatives from the Willow & Caswell Fire Departments and Willow CERT volunteers, led the training sessions.
The hands-on portion provided participants with real-world scenarios to apply their training, including light search and rescue and medical triage in disaster conditions. Community members volunteered as actor disaster survivors, enriching the simulation with realistic challenges. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to these volunteers for their contribution and to the Willow Area Community Organization (WACO) for their continued support of CERT programs.
Why CERT Matters
Disasters can strike at any time, and preparedness saves lives. The CERT program empowers individuals to respond effectively to emergencies, bridging the gap until professional responders arrive. This training not only benefits those directly involved but also strengthens the resilience of the entire community. CERT-trained individuals can assist neighbors during emergencies, promote safety awareness, and support local events.
Open to All
The success of the Willow CERT Training underscores the importance of such programs. We encourage everyone to consider joining CERT. It’s an opportunity to learn life-saving skills, contribute to your community, and build a safer future for all.
If you missed this training, don’t worry! The next CERT Basic Course will be held in January in Wasilla. For more information or to register, please contact Talon Boeve at talon.boeve@matsugov.us or call 907-861-8316.
Thank You
A special thank you goes out to the Willow CERT team for organizing and hosting this invaluable training, as well as to the Mat-Su Borough Department of Emergency Services, Willow and Caswell Fire Departments, and all the dedicated volunteers. We also appreciate the support of Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union (MVFCU) for funding this program in part.
Let’s continue working together to ensure our communities are prepared, resilient, and ready to face any challenges that may come our way.
Sunshine Community Health Center
1-907-376-2273 (CARE)
*This article was written with the support of AI*