Sparta CERT Basic Training Starting in April

SPARTA, NJ - Sparta Township is preparing for a fifth round of CERT training for anyone interested in volunteering to become educated about how to assist family, friends and neighbors in the event of a major disaster. Team members will receive training in topics ranging from disaster preparedness to disaster medical operations.

The CERT team falls under the umbrella of the Sparta Township Emergency Preparedness steering committee as part of the Office of Emergency Management, directed by Chief of Police Ernest Reigstad. Training will be provided free of charge at the Sussex County Public Safety Training Academy. The training is broken into nine sessions lasting from two to three hours each, during the months of April, May and June. The instruction will culminate with a final exam and disaster simulation on June 11th.

The schedule for this round of training is:

• Unit 1 - Disaster Preparation - Thursday, 4/20 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 2 - Fire Safety and Utility Controls - Thursday, 4/27 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 3 - Disaster Medical Operations - Thursday, 5/4 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 4 - Disaster Medical Operations - Thursday, 5/11 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
• Unit 5 - Light Search and Rescue - Thursday, 5/19 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 6 - CERT Organization - Thursday, 5/26 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Unit 7 - Disaster Psychology - Thursday, 6/1 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 8 - CERT and Terrorism - Thursday, 6/8 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Unit 9 - Final Exam and Disaster Simulation - Saturday, 6/11 from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Alex Kloian, Sparta CERT Coordinator, will run the sessions, based on FEMA guidelines. Kloian has extensive CERT experience having been active in the program since 2002.

To date, thirty-seven Sparta residents and four non-residents have completed the course.

Following the training course, those wishing to continue or refresh their training are welcome to attend monthly meetings hosted by Sparta CERT.

CERT is a national program sponsored by FEMA. The training is transferable to any other CERT program in the country. For additional information about the FEMA program please visit http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams.

Those interested in attending the training must register by emailing Sparta.nj.cert@gmail.com

The Sparta program is open to non-residents, ages 16 and over, whose municipality does not have their own CERT training program.