Posted: 3/14/2008 4:12:42 PM EDT
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Well the Pulaski county Community Emergency Response Team training is over and now Oden and myself are both "trained". It was approx 8 weeks of 2-3 hour Thursday evenings. I went in with a semi cocky conception that it was basic enough that they wouldn't teach me anything. I was happily mistaken and actually learned a little bit while I was in there, enough to justify the time spent. Also made a few friends while I was there and look forward to continued training along the same lines w/Oden. Training consisted of: Disaster Preparedness and Terrorism Light Search And Rescue CERT Organization Disaster Psychology Disaster Medical Operations CPR National Weather Service Storm Spotter program Fire Safety / training at the end of training we received a back pack of assorted fun stuff hard hat goggles gloves face masks first aid kit duct tape flashlight (cheap) multi tool crescent style wrench utility multi wrench MRE among other goods. the gear was mostly all import with some "ok" and some worthless. I replaced some of it and repacked it into a much smaller pack. Overall the training was good for someone of my level of preparedness (which I would say is "above average") I would HIGHLY recommend taking the course for anyone that isn't trained, and would definately suggest the training for folks at my level or above. there's lots more I'm sure I'm leaving out, and I think that Oden will comment some as well... You can find out more information at the CERT website here: CERT Pulaski County CERT Coordinator: Kathy Botsford Email: kbotsford @ co.pulaski.ar.us (remove spaces) Emergency Managment Office: (501) 340-6911 |
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Well lets see what else can i comment on, the classes were organized and handled well but it really brought to light how unorganized the cert effort is in central arkansas. The class we took was very centered around Maumelle and didn't make any provisions for continuing efforts outside of that small area. I think all told our group makes 100 cert members scattered through pulaski county and no one knows what to do with us. At the county level there is no further training planned other than state wide exercise where we can do grunt work. I live the farthest away and was not offered any contact with the little rock cert groups or and i don't plan to stay involved with the maumelle group because i wouldn't be responding with them in a emergency. As i expressed once if there is a bonafide emergency i need to help with im not crossing the river bridge on I-430. Still not a bad way to kill a couple hours a week, some good networking opportunities, got a tour of the Arkansas department of emergency management which would be ideal to hole up in in teotwawki ( yes i was that guy that pointed out the hallway that would make a very nice choke point  ). The training we were given is so minimal as to not help much, good things to think about yes and i did learn some stuff but i would have liked more training out of the classroom area, then again you get what you paid for and it was free. one of the better parts was the storm spotter program, that was mostly new to me and hopefully it will come in use in the future/So yeah the back pack, complete piece of junk, all the items got folded into my maxpedition bag when i got home. Hopefully in a emergency the items that identify me as cert will allow me more freedom of movement that i would other wise have. The best part was planning future training with flatlines that should be extremely educational and fun. |