Thursday, January 19, 2006
USI's CERT members preparing for disaster
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If disaster strikes at USI, 18 employees who participated in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training in December are ready to respond. Team leader Ray Simmons, sports information director, said, “We are considered second responders, so in the case of a natural disaster, terrorist attack, chemical spill, or other disaster, we would assist the first responders on the scene with search and rescue, first aid, paperwork, and anything else they need.” CERT training is a program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It was provided at USI by Christine Martin of the Southwest Indiana Disaster Resistant Community (DRC) Corporation, a nonprofit organization with the purpose of preparing the community for natural and man-made disasters. Southwest Indiana is at risk from earthquakes, tornadoes, and flooding. USI Team members include Simmons, Jerry Bulger, John Busch, Linda Dillbeck, Adam Durbin, Deanna Engler, Larry Feldhaus, Paul Frazer, Vince Frazier, Barbara Goodwin, John Hunt, Renee Kast, Jenny Medcraft, Kathy Mitchell, Iris Phillips, Anthony Schmitt, Katy Simutis, and Jim Stanley. Simmons became interested in CERT through a program developed in his neighborhood. “The Evansville director of FEMA lives down the street from me. He gave our subdivision a talk about the CERT program, and said if a natural disaster occurred, we could be dependent upon ourselves until first responders arrived. When I saw the opportunity to take the training at USI, I jumped at the offer.” Training for the USI team will be ongoing, and Simmons is currently collecting names of people who would like to join a second team that would begin training some time this spring. “With as many buildings as we have on this campus, 18 people would be spread thin quickly,” he said. “Our main goal is to be here and be available for USI security and Evansville first responders when they need our assistance.” USI CERT members attended seven training sessions in total, meeting two to three times a week from 1 to 3:30 p.m. They participated in team-building exercises, learned first aid techniques, and performed an emergency drill. Well-meaning volunteers who have not been trained in emergency response risk their own lives, and can cause more harm than good. Simmons cited the 1985 Mexico City earthquake as an example of what can happen when volunteers are not properly trained. In that disaster, 800 people were rescued, but 100 volunteers died during search and rescue operations. “The goal is to assist the first responders in a safe and organized fashion,” he said. If you are interested in participating in the next CERT training, contact Simmons. |
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