RIVER VALE, N.J.—The River Vale Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) gained nine new members, including three husband/wife couples, in December graduating class 19-01, held at the Paramus Life Safety Complex.
Some of the skills the new members were taught over eight weeks: terrorism awareness, disaster psychology, first aid, fire suppression, and light search and rescue. Training culminated in an exercise emphasizing the lessons learned.
New members are Cheryl and James Bruno, Nancy and Bruce Fastow, Shelly and Richard Mautz, Angelie Mana-ay, Dana Porrazzo, and Bill Wulff.
According to Bill Peters, deputy OEM/CERT coordinator, the team has joined the Bergen County R.A.C.E.S. (Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services) emergency radio network.
“Having four CERT members who are licensed amateur radio operators, the county provided an emergency radio and antenna for use by the River Vale team in event of the failure of other means of communications,” Peters told Pascack Press last week.
He added, “This is one more tool that expands the Township’s emergency preparedness.”
According to Peters, the team was also assigned a fire department surplus vehicle.
“With the help of Mayor Glen Jasionowski and Council President Mark Bromberg—an active CERT member—the truck that was going to be disposed of was serviced, re-marked and outfitted with radios and equipment for use by the CERT team,” Peter said.
He explained it will be utilized for attendance at meetings and to tow the CERT equipment trailer.
“This expands the team’s ability to rapidly respond to emergencies throughout the county and state,” he said.
Peters said the CERT concept originated on the West Coast decades ago in the wake of natural disasters such as earthquakes. Federal Emergency Management Agency CERT began springing from the grassroots here in the Northeast following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
The program trains ordinary citizens to care for themselves, their family, their neighbors and their community in the event of a declared emergency. These volunteers help to improve the response and preparedness of the community and the emergency services.
This program is open to all county residents. Training is provided at the Bergen County Law and Public Safety Institute. Members must be at least 18 and pass a nine-night training course, three hours per night, to qualify.
The town OEM is responsible for planning for and coordinating the response to all natural or man-made emergencies that may occur in the borough or within the surrounding areas. The office works closely with local, county, and state officials.
Peters said that although many area CERT programs have faded away, River Vale’s is strong and growing. He said committed members and strong support from the police department and local government are keys to the team’s vitality and value.
For membership information contact Bill Peters at fireappwp@aol.com or Linda Wayne at sun384@aol.com.
