CERT training prepares community for flooding | 09.04.2007 | 07:29:54 | Views: 5939 | ID: September 4 '07: The Coulee News in Wisconsin reported that during the recent intense flooding in Midwest states some residents in La Crosse County were ready to respond and give assistance to local first responders and emergency management officials. "Roughly 90 people have gone through the CERT training over the past several years," the Coulee News reported. "A number of them signed up to be on a registry of volunteers through the Onalaska Fire Department. Some CERT graduates had volunteered for non-emergency roles, such as helping with crowd control," at local events." But during the flooding, local officials enlisted the help of the CERT graduates. "The CERT crew helped out by delivering water, food and cleaning materials, assessing damage and needs and gathering information needed by emergency response agencies. At times ... the CERT volunteers had to wade through knee deep mud to get to their destinations." Jane Abnet, a CERT civilian coordinator who works with the Onalaska Fire Department told the Coulee News, "I was pretty proud of everyone, and the CERT training really proved itself. ... I was just amazed at how well everyone conducted themselves."
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