City offers CERT course to area residents

The City of Auburn Emergency Management Office, in conjunction the White River Valley Citizen Corps Council and the Valley Regional Fire Authority, will offer a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training course to area residents.

The six-week training course begins on April 9 and will meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m. and two Saturday drills. The final drill and graduation will be held May 16.

Class is free for persons that live, work or volunteer in the city limits of Auburn, Algona or Pacific. Outside resident fee is $25.

Class members will be required to provide some basic equipment, such as sturdy shoes or boots and work gloves. Other necessary supplies and equipment will be provided. A complete list of required equipment will be provided upon registration.

Pre-registration is required for all courses and space is limited. For more information, or to register for this class, please call 253-876-1925 or e-mail emergencyprep@auburnwa.gov. Applications may also be downloaded from the Internet by visiting www.auburnwa.gov/disaster.

ABOUT CERT TRAINING

CERT training is comprised of 24-plus hours of classroom education and hands-on practice in topics including disaster preparedness, emergency management, fire safety / suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster communication, disaster psychology, and all-hazards identification and awareness.

Graduates have the opportunity to become registered emergency workers with their respective cities and the State of Washington, allowing them to aid in local and regional disasters. Graduates also have the opportunity to participate in local and regional continuing education activities, including training and field exercises. Courses are taught by fire department and emergency management professionals from the cities of Auburn and Pacific, as well as the Valley Regional Fire Authority.