Plainsboro Police Department presented the federally funded citizen-training program referred to as “Community Emergency Response Team,” or C.E.R.T. training. The 10-week program began on January 25 and graduated the first Plainsboro C.E.R.T. team of 29 community citizens on March 22.
Graduates of the 10-week course include Linda Weisfeld, Perry Strayley, Bonnie Runmpf, Theodore Biewer, Marjorie Behrens, Lawrence Crossey, Charles Denk, Joan Galpen, Richard Gould, Linda Hill, Richard Kaplan, Mel Szochet, Farida Khan, Marcia Szochet, Anthony Lieber, Michelle Korn, Jesus Pagan, Joanne Petto, Manick Rajendran, Maryann Sullivan, Peter Sandor, Howard Stern, Jacquline Pagan, John Wiegartner, Debra Uhaze, Ajit Prakulanga, Carolynn Bitzer, Frederick Wein, and Sandra Weinstein.
The training program is designed to educate people about disaster preparedness and basic disaster response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Graduates can lessen the effects of hazards on themselves, their homes, or workplace. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, C.E.R.T. members can give critical support to their family, loved ones, neighbors, or associates until help arrives. When help does arrive, C.E.R.T. volunteer teams can provide useful information to responders and support their efforts, as directed, at the disaster site.
C.E.R.T. and Citizen Police Academy (C.P.A.) graduates had their own information area at the recent Founder’s Day celebration in Plainsboro. For information about C.E.R.T. training program or the Citizen Police Academy program, visit www.plainsboropolice.com or call Plainsboro Police Department at 609-799-2333. Both community programs are free of charge.
