CERT in Action!
in response to downtown flooding.
Naperville, IL CERT Responds to Flooding
On Sept. 14, 2008, the Naperville, IL CERT was activated by the Naperville Fire Department to help fill sandbags for residents affected by flooding in the area. Forty CERT volunteers were briefed and given sandbagging equipment at Naperville's municipal center before dispersing to several sandbagging locations throughout the city. Volunteers filled several thousand bags throughout the day that were then used to help protect homes and businesses.
"Aside from training exercises, this was the first time that the City of Naperville mobilized our CERT members in a coordinated effort through the city's human resources department," City of Naperville Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Lt. Dave Szablewski said. "They all did a fantastic job in supportactivities during the flood."
All of Naperville's approximately 60 active CERT members subscribe to a City Watch system, which helps mobilize volunteers during an emergency through automatically generated phone messages and e-mails.
"It went very well," said Naperville CERT member Angel Whitt, who helped fill sandbags for three hours. "CERT is such an amazing program. The residents were so thankful, and we really helped a lot."
For more information, please contact Angel Whitt, whittville@sbcglobal.net.