WeHa Seeks Volunteers To Prepare For Disaster

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — A community group dedicated to preparing for the worst is hoping for the best as a new training class no emergency preparedness is set to start Saturday, Oct. 21.

West Hartford's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is looking for new members to attend its next Basic Training Class, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. at Elmwood Community Center, 1106 New Britain Ave.

CERT training consists of a basic standardized 20-hour course over five weeks followed by additional training in shelter management, first aid and disaster preparedness.

Classes include emergency first aid, disaster psychology, animal sheltering, fire safety, terrorism, and more.

There is no cost to participate.

Participants are trained by professional responders in areas that will help them take care of themselves and others before, during and after a major emergency.

CERT members will also take an online FEMA training course.

To date, 200 people have been trained.

West Hartford’s Community Emergency Response Team is a group of local volunteers from different neighborhoods that receive special training to enhance their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation.

The team meets and trains monthly at the Elmwood Community Center.

Those interested in joining the team and attending the upcoming training, should visit the Town of West Hartford’s CERT web page or click on this link for the CERT Application. For more information about the CERT program, email CERT@westhartfordct.gov or call the town’s CERT team coordinator Robert McCue at 860-561-8310.