Elgin’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be recognized in a special City Council ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. in Elgin City Council Chambers, 150 Dexter Court. A cake reception will be held prior to the ceremony beginning at 6 p.m. in City Hall Lobby.
CERT members are trained to provide emergency assistance to the Elgin Police and Fire Departments during times of crises. Members of CERT have completed 20 hours of course work that enables them to offer assistance in everything from light search and rescue operations to mutual-aid emergency functions.
The Elgin Police Department has been providing CERT training since 2004.
“More than 500 citizens have gone through Elgin’s CERT-One training,” said EPD’s Emergency Management Coordinator Karen Flanagan. “They have helped the police and fire departments with emergencies like flood evacuations, downed wires and missing person searches.”
Flanagan said that there are also 60 citizens enrolled in CERT-Two, which provides further disaster training.
“These dedicated citizens provide much needed help to our community at times we need them the most,” said Flanagan. “They all deserve recognition.”