More Valley residents learning disaster preparedness skills
by Rose Mizell
Special to the Valley View


Duvall and Carnation have joined forces in preparing our neighborhoods for a disaster.

Coordinated through the Carna-tion-Duvall Citizen Corps Council, in cooperation with the Duvall Fire Department and Eastside Fire and Rescue, Valley residents graduated recently from the Valley's first CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training.

CERT members were trained to prepare themselves, their families and homes so that when a disaster strikes, they will be better able to help their neighbors.

"It's all about neighbor helping neighbor," said Laurie Clinton, CERT Coordinator. Clinton received CERT Trainer's Certification through FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) last year, and began making plans to bring the training to the Valley.

The six-week training was taught by the staff from Duvall Fire (Mike McMurray, Greg Bawden and Ken Burnside), Eastside Fire and Rescue (Steve Hastings, Lt. Chris Ducey, Rick Reynolds), Woodinville Fire and Life Safety (Dave Leggett), Nancy Hovan, Northshore PTA Council Emergency Preparedness Committee Chair and Ted Ritter, A.R.N.P.

Participants received instruction on subjects of disaster preparedness, fire safety and suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, the CERT organization and disaster psychology. The training culminated with a four-hour hands-on session including fire suppression, search and rescue, lifting heavy objects off victims and medical patient triage.

Students from Lake Washington Voc. Tech, and Cedarcrest's drama department served as "moul age" victims. Moulage is the simulation of injuries with make-up and props.
Who will rise to leadership in your neighborhood when disaster strikes? 

Who will have the knowledge and training necessary to get people and services organized until fire, emergency medical and police services can respond? Who are these CERT graduates?

Laura Bailey, Kathy Brasch, Rowland Brasch, Lisa Brouwer, Joel Calvert, Laurie Clinton, Charlie Correll, Robert Cox, Jim Francis, Frank DeGroot, Peter Dodge, Jeff Gerde, Kathy Gottfried, Stephen Gunderson, Ray Heeren, Steve Hirsh, Sue Juhre, Kelly Kussman, Megan Lane, Gene Laughlin, John Laughlin, Mike McMurray, Mickey Murphy, Kathy Osborn, Alan Osgood, Sharon Osgood, Barbara Powrie, Wendy Rendelman, Gail Ritchie, Brian Robertson, Joe Ann Rucker, Rich Rucker, Irvina Russell, Meredith Russell, Margaret Selvage, Mark Smith, Doug Taft, Kyle Tipton and Jan Whelan.

"For those interested in the program, we plan another session of classes in Carnation in spring 2004, followed by a Duvall class in the fall," said Clinton.
CERT training is currently offered in many cities throughout the country, and several in King County, including Kent and Woodinville.

The Carnation-Duvall Citizen Corps Counci 1 is composed of people who reside and/or work in the greater Carnation-Duvall area. The Citizen Corps Council includes representatives of neighborhoods, businesses, faith-based and non-profit organizations, the Chambers of Commerce, Riverview School District, first re-sponder organizations and local and county government.

In addition to participating with the Duvall Fire Department and Eastside Fire and Rescue in training CERT volunteers, the Council coordinates Volunteers in Police Service, Neighborhood Watch 'Plus,' and Medical Reserve Corps. Also trained are volunteers to be mobilized by the mayor of Duvall and/orthe City Council of Carnation in the event of a disaster to back up local Emergency Operations Center personnel.

The Carnation-Duvall Citizen Corps Counci! coordinates its activities with the King County Office of Emergency Management. Those interested in the Citizen Corps Council's programs should access www.cdcncl.org to find out more details and then submit the Council's electronic volunteer form. Alternatively, a volunteer form may be had by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to the Council at PO Box 644, Carnation, WA 98014.

The national Citizen Corps program is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Information about the program and its 900-plus organizations nationwide, a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, may be found at the national Citizen Corps Internet Web site, www.citizencorps.gov.