CERT in Action!
CERT Member Offers Help in New Britain, Conn.
CERT members never know when they will need to use their training and respond to a situation. This was the case recently for a CERT member in New Britain, Connecticut. The CERT member was driving home one afternoon near the Shuttle Meadow Reservoir in June, 2009, when she saw a minivan rolling down the embankment and into the water. Out of concern for anyone potentially trapped inside, she drove closer to the van. She saw water up to its roof as the van was quickly sinking deeper into the reservoir, with no one exiting the cold water. She immediately jumped out of her vehicle and prepared to jump in the water.
However, as she got closer to the water's edge, she remembered her CERT training. Her CERT class had taught her to look at the whole situation and to always protect herself first. Before going any further she called 911 to dispatch first responders and relay all important information. As she directed the responders to the location, she realized there were several teenagers in the area watching. It was discovered later that the teenagers had stolen the van and dumped it in the reservoir. Upon arriving at the scene, firefighters searched the water and confirmed that no one had been inside the van.
Michael Berry, Deputy Director of Emergency Management for the City of New Britain and a member of the New Britain Fire Department, credits CERT training for the womans response in this situation. "Because of her CERT training, she was able to protect herself, gather information, and direct trained and equipped personnel to the location without placing herself in a dangerous position."
For more information, please contact Lieutenant Michael Berry at MBB1324@NewBritainCT.gov.