Congratulations Josu Jackson on becoming one of the first CERT graduates on Mercer Island!

[MeLisa Turcott Strongheart]

Mercer Island graduates first CERT volunteer class

Submitted by Rose Egge, KOMO Communities Reporter

Wednesday, February 9th, 05:08pm

Community Spirit

Saturday January 22 marked Mercer Island's first (CERT) Community Emergency Response Team Graduation. Over the course of a year Mercer Island citizens have spent one Saturday a month being trained to respond and assist with disasters. Volunteers are trained in subjects ranging from search & rescue, damage assessment to communications and shelter training. There are 10 classes in the series with two months set aside for disaster drills. A total of 96 citizens participated in the classes, twenty of which graduated on January 22 (listed below).

Mercer Island is fortunate to have one of the most active and experienced emergency volunteer teams in the area. With the limited city staff that live on the Island the need for citizen volunteers to assist in a disaster is paramount. 

CERT Volunteer classes are held monthly and the series will start up again March 19. Classes are fun, informative and a great way to meet your neighbors. Click here to view the 2011 training schedule. Feel free to come to any class, attending the entire series is not necessary unless you want CERT certification.

Congratulations to the 2010 CERT Graduates! 

Patti Darling, Dr. Lee Glass, Gary Hedrick, Jim Hunt, Tina Jackson, Jason King, Andrew King, John Livingston, Barbara Luther, Sandy Maloof, Helen Martin, Larry McWilliams, Bonnie Miller, Keith & Vesna Swanson, Tom Ulie, Lee Vierling, Joel Wachs, Guy & Sandy Yollin, Carv Zwingle

[Tina Jackson]

Thank you everyone,  It has been an eye opener on how to be ready and prepared. This safety and preparedness of this Island is awesome. It takes a lot of coordination on the part of police, firemen, medical teams and volunteers to make sure WHEN something happens, Mercer Island is ready to handle it.

I'm excited to continue with this program in 2011. Part of my job is to get the businesses involved in being prepared to take care of it's employees when an emergency happens.

 The best way this happens is to be informed and prepared. Do you have 6 to 7 days worth of water/food for each person? Do you have a plan in place for your kids if you can't get to them? Do you have medication with you if you can't get home? Do you have an EMERGENCY KIT?

These are just a few questions that can start you off on thinking... are you prepared?

If you are interested, I have few 6/7 day EMERGENCY KITS for sale. $89.99. self contained in a backpack for good mobility.

Thanks again everyone...

[Krista Wells]

Congratulations Josu  Jackson,  You have worked so hard for this!