County’s CERT team prepares for disaster

It looked like a scene out of a movie. There were lights flashing, the power was shut off, and panicked residents were running through the fallen debris. 
Last Thursday night’s final CERT training drill certainly had the realism down. Among the volunteer actors was a woman searching frantically for her lost baby, a man trapped under a piece of plywood, and several others who appeared in dire need of medical attention.
This drill was the final hurdle for a class of eight, one of whom was excluded due to an absence. After completing the course, the students in the class become certified members of Steele County’s Community Emergency Response Team.
Bonnie Johnson, president of Steele County CERT, explains that the class includes eight modules, separate online portions, and lastly the training exercise, which was held at the Owatonna Fire Hall.
With a scenario in mind, the CERT team utilized volunteers to recreate the scene of a possible disaster. Before the class was able to jump into the action and get to test out some of the techniques and methods they’ve learned, Johnson had them go over their protocols, pair up, and choose a designated leader.
The situation was also explained. The drill would reenact the CERT team’s readiness and preparedness in case of an emergency. In this example, a storm had knocked out power, and caused destruction within the community. The CERT team’s job was to demonstrate how to properly perform a search and rescue at the basement of a local business, including triage and recovery. The fire hall basement doubled as the setting.
Iris Johnson, CERT trainer and Red Cross member, thinks such community preparedness is vital to counteract the difficulties an emergency situation can present to first responders, as well as the panicked public.
She said the program has trained and certified over 200 people since its inception. The class has been offered for some 15 odd years, having started in 2003. One year there were two classes offered, and another year the class was unavailable.
CERT, Johnson said, helps with many variations of emergency response, including crowd control, sheltering, road closures, and disaster assessment. She feels that “for every person trained, that’s one less that the city has to take care of during an emergency.”
According to Johnson, their motto is “do the greatest good in the shortest amount of time.” She also said, “We’re all about making people safe.”
Some of the precautions those who take the class acquire include proper preparedness, response techniques including those for search and rescue situations, and the importance of shutting off utilities in the face of certain disasters.
“We tell people to first look after themselves, and once they know they’re safe, to then begin to account for their family and friends, and neighbors, and then they can communicate with and aid first responders,” Johnson explained.
Last year the class held its courses at Roosevelt School, with the training drill held at Lincoln School. Johnson and CERT are in talks with Trinity Lutheran Church, which will likely host both the course and its drill next year.
When asked whether the first responders were initially hesitant in supporting CERT, Johnson said she thinks that the performance of her CERT team during the flood of 2010 helped cement their faith in the program.
“They were out laying sandbags, and helping with all of the flooding,” Johnson said. “Now the first responders definitely support us. After the flood, I think they understood how valuable we can be.”
Many of the first responders help by teaching proper techniques, she noted.
Jerry Ibberson of Steele County CERT agrees with Johnson’s assessment. He feels that the community, including local first responders, is very supportive. He said CERT’s job is to work in conjunction with first responders, “during a disaster it can be overwhelming, so we bridge the gap.”
In order to become a member of CERT, one has to complete the requirements of the class, including the final drill, be over the age of 18, a resident of Steele County, and pass a background check. Those who wish to be certified below the age of 18 can attend the class accompanied by a parent.
This year’s class featured a mother-daughter team, a Civil Air Patrol officer, two residents studying emergency management, and two Red Cross Disaster Action Team members. With their training complete they will be able to properly assist first responders during a disaster situation.
“Learning these techniques gives you some confidence if something happens, and teaches you not to just panic, because now you know what to do,” says Iris Johnson, who is proud of this year’s class of CERT members. “It’s really a great group.”

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