CERT-ainly, it's safety first

Valley Life editor

In the event of a sudden disaster, entire communities may be inaccessible to emergency first responders. That's precisely why Linda Schwankl is taking her message of disaster preparedness to community councils and local organizations.

Schwankl is the new citizens corps coordinator for the Mat-Su Borough. She is actively trying to get communities to form community emergency response teams (CERT), so that in a time of crisis, neighbors can help neighbors.

"The troopers are swamped and our emergency personnel are swamped, and when a disaster strikes, time is important," Schwankl said. "If there is a community team in place, it can make a big difference."

Joining a CERT team isn't a big commitment, and that's exactly why Schwankl is hoping people get involved. A 20-hour training program, spread out over a couple weeks, is all that is required.

"Maybe you don't want to make the commitment to becoming a volunteer firefighter or EMT -- I know I probably wouldn't want to. But a CERT team doesn't require such a big commitment," Schwankl said. "CERTs get 'surface training' on a wide variety of topics."

In a disaster, CERT members can be a vital link for first responders. Emergency service personnel know a qualified group of people will be in control of a situation, which makes their job easier. CERT members can help apply basic response and organizational skills, which ultimately can save lives, Schwankl said.

"It relieves a lot of the stress for the responders if they know a CERT team is in a particular community," Schwankl said. "It's a good partnership between a community and emergency responders."

Schwankl has been visiting town and community councils, as well as local organizations, to introduce herself and the federally-funded CERT program. She has already received positive feedback -- a group of Trapper Creek residents is already forming a CERT in their area.

"Remote areas are so important," Schwankl said. "On the north side of the Little Susitna, if a bridge went out, it cuts off almost everyone. A CERT team is about neighbors helping neighbors. It's a way for people to get involved to help themselves and their neighbors."

Schwankl said that after living through the 1964 earthquake, she knows that disasters strike unannounced.

"You couldn't go down to the grocery store then, because there wasn't any food there. The runways were closed, so more food wasn't coming in," she said. "That's how fast everything can change. You have to be prepared."

Teams consist of between five and 15 individuals. All members must go through the 20-hour training program, and then they are issued a CERT backpack filled with "tools" such as rubber gloves, a helmet, a flashlight, a first aid kit and other items.

Schwankl said she hopes to have CERTs up and running not only in subdivisions and communities, but also at businesses.

"If something happens during the day during business hours, people will be ready," she said. "Businesses like MEA and MTA are out in the community every day. I'm going to hit up those businesses and really push to get them trained."

Training consists of disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations (including treating life-threatening injuries), light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and terrorism.

"People kind of roll their eyes and say that we don't really have to worry about terrorism up here, but we've got a valuable asset in the pipeline," Schwankl said. "That could be a target."

For more information on how to form a CERT in your community, interested people can contact Schwankl at 373-8821.