Fire chief appointed to state committee

Mason has 30 years of fire-related experience

By Latreecia Wade
Tuesday, November 25, 2008 3:18 AM CST

Chief Russ Mason, of Central County Fire and Rescue, has sacrificed a lot to serve the residents of the fire district, and now residents throughout the state will benefit from his benevolence.

Mason, 51, of St. Peters, recently was appointed to the Advisory Committee for 911 Service Oversight by Gov. Matt Blunt.

Mason said he was recommended to the governor's office by the Missouri Fire Service Alliance because he is vice president of the Missouri Association of Fire Chiefs. He also is president of the Professional Fire and Fraud Investigation Association.

"A representative of each major group in the state get together and talk about joint issues related to fire safety," Mason said. "An opening for a fire service representative became vacant and I was chosen to fill the seat."

The husband and father of four has been with Central County for 14 years, and before that was with the Missouri Division of Fire Safety for eight years; he has 30 years of fire-related experience.

"I got into it (fire safety) as a volunteer firefighter growing up in North St. Louis County," Mason said. "The rest is history."

Mason said a career in fire safety was the last thing on his mind at first, until a conversation at a baseball game changed his mind.

"The local leagues needed a coach and I heard one of the guys was a volunteer firefighter and he told me about it and that was it," Mason said. "I knew what I wanted to do."

In 1977, he began his fire service career as a volunteer firefighter in Bolivar. In 1982, he was appointed chief of the Bolivar Fire Department.

Mason served as assistant chief for the Rolla Fire Department from 1985 to 1987. He then moved to St. Charles County after accepting a position as an investigator for the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.

In 1991, Mason was promoted to deputy chief and chief investigator in charge of the Criminal Investigation Unit for the Missouri Division of Fire Safety.

Mason joined the St. Peters Fire Protection District as an assistant chief in 1995. He was promoted to the rank of deputy chief in 1998 with the consolidation of the St. Peters and St. Charles fire protection districts. He became chief of Central County Fire and Rescue in February 2003.

"He's highly professional," Assistant Fire Chief Brian Ochs said about Mason. "He's very well versed on every aspect of fire service. He would be a great asset to the state committee."

Mason has a bachelor's degree in fire service administration from Western Illinois University. His appointment to the committee is subject to Senate confirmation for a term ending on April 9, 2010, according to a news release from the governor's office.

ROCKWOOD SCHOOLS: Staff learn rescue techniques in mock drill

Student "victims" like cool makeup

By Mary Shapiro
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 3:04 PM CST

A group of middle school teachers, carrying heavily-bandaged sixth-grader Nick Bertich on a makeshift cardboard stretcher, quickly puts him down in a hallway in Selvidge Middle School when an earthquake aftershock warning sounds Nov. 12.

As his group of "rescuers" exits the building without him, Nick, taped up almost mummy style, is aided by Metro West Fire Protection District personnel in getting himself free.

Smiling, Nick showed off his realistic "injury" makeup, saying "I'm supposed to be a person with a head injury and two broken legs."

"This makeup is really cool, but the best part was being trapped under all the boards," Nick admitted.

Nick, along with other Selvidge students, staff from all six Rockwood School District middle schools, and local police and firefighters took part in a mock earthquake disaster training exercise at the school, 235 New Ballwin Road in Ballwin.

It was the final day, and a kind of "final exam," of a three-day training exercise, allowing Rockwood Crisis Team members from each of the district's middle schools to learn the skills they'll need to react quickly and efficiently if ever faced with a major disaster at their school.

They learned, for example, how to fight a fire with a fire extinguisher, how to extricate someone trapped in a dangerous situation and how to provide first aid.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) instructors from the Metro West, Eureka and Fenton fire protection districts, Ballwin and St. Louis County police, as well as other CERT volunteers, led the training.

The scenario for last Wednesday was that an earthquake had hit the area, causing a disastrous situation at Selvidge. Rockwood Crisis Team members had to spring into action, make critical decisions and help the injured.

The school's lobby, for instance, was turned into a "triage" medical area, with different areas for those severely injured and not so severely, said Metro West Lt. John Bradley.

Selvidge Principal Sean Stryhal, looking on, said, "The best thing about this exercise is that our staff from all the middle schools can get firsthand experience."

He said the idea for the training session came from Selvidge assistant principal Mike Anselmo following a crisis-training workshop between Rockwood officials and local emergency services providers in September.

"We needed to make certain we know what to do in a crisis, and that's why this CERT training was important," Anselmo said. "And this was a great way for students to do their part."

Down a health science area hallway, "trapped" student victims, screaming "help!" at the top of their lungs, were buried under plywood debris, which supposedly was part of a collapsed ceiling.

Pieces of pipe were used by rescuers as crowbars and the plywood was used as "cribbing" to help lift debris off "victims."

"All this debris becomes tools; they're learning," Bradley explained.

Bill Roach, with the St. Louis County Police Office of Emergency Management, praised the effort.

"Especially in a catastrophe like a tornado or earthquake, you can't have enough trained people," Roach said. "Having trained people scattered through the schools is a valuable resource. We stress this kind of training because the time to figure out how to react is not when a ceiling has collapsed. We hope the students here can take this training home to help their parents."

Bradley agreed that in a disaster, emergency service responders could be spread thin, "and trained teachers can respond faster and make a greater impact."

"This is the first time we've done this activity, but we hope it will continue," he said.

Police school resource officers took part in the training. Selvidge's SRO, Ballwin police officer Dave Ovca, said the exercise "has given me an opportunity to interact with staff from various schools and see how we can all work together in an emergency situation, where working on students makes it realistic."

"Staff did well, showing a lot of flexibility, and the kids did a great job, too," Ovca said.

About two dozen Selvidge students had the chance to volunteer as victims and be made up with remarkably realistic "wounds" created by CERT trainer LaFaye Young.

"We prepped the kids, telling them to say how much their burns and wounds hurt and to yell and scream," Bradley said. "That was a way to build in 'stressers' for rescuers, challenging them psychologically. It's been pretty loud, which is why we chose a part of school where there wouldn't be too much class disruption."

A group of bandaged "walking wounded" - seventh-graders Hayley Nebrig and Molly Grotha and eighth-graders Jessie Berger and Gabby Tecklenburg - said they loved the chance to emote.

"I wanted to do this because I thought it would be fun and wanted to help our teachers learn," Hayley said. "My rescuers did good, asking if I was OK and what I needed."

For Molly, the best part "was getting to scream and being rolled on a stretcher."

"I'm going to leave my makeup on when I go home," she said.

"I really liked being buried in rubble," Jessie said. "I played someone who was blind, but I knew there were always people right there to help me."

Saying she hoped she could hang on to her "leg wound," Gabby said that if a disaster actually happened, "our teachers need to know what to do so a lot of us wouldn't be killed - like we supposedly were this time."

In a debriefing session, Metro West's Mike Thiemann, coordinator of community services and disaster preparedness, praised the group's response - even those who left Nick behind in the aftershock.

"Rescuers can't rescue anyone if they're injured themselves," he told the group.

Tina Priese, a business education teacher at LaSalle Springs Middle School, said the activity "helped me learn organization and to set priorities in a crisis."

"Before, I had never used a fire extinguisher and had no idea how to lift debris off somebody," Priese said.

Katie Kowalik, a seventh-grade language arts teacher at LaSalle Springs, said she learned how to stay calm.

"The teamwork was great, and I was surprised how much you can lift with the proper tools," Kowalik said.

"We found out a lot about disaster first-aid and the importance of planning, knowing what you're getting into," said Libby Guimbarda, an eighth-grade language arts teacher at Crestview Middle School. After this, I'm motivated to volunteer for more training."

Battalion Chief Ed Beirne of Metro West, which organized the effort, said, "We've been able to teach not just competency but confidence, so staff can take care of issues before we get there. This kind of hands-on exercise makes the difference."

More in Maryville involved in addressing emergencies

Village creates volunteer team

By Aaron Sudholt
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 3:01 AM CST

Maryville emergency responders will get extra help the next time the village is hit with a major wind storm, power outage or other emergency.

The Maryville Community Emergency Responders Team will provide 14 certified volunteers who can check on the elderly and answer non-emergency disaster response calls.

"The snow storms from last year were a big factor (in forming the group)," said Dan Wright, a member of CERT who serves on the Maryville Community Improvement Board. "We could have used some people volunteering in the community."

Snow storms that hit the St. Louis area during the 2007-2008 winter made roads treacherous, cut power and sometimes trapped people in their homes. According to the National Weather Service, St. Louis received 20.2 inches of snow that winter.

The snow was a big factor in forming the team, village officials said.

"We didn't have the manpower to make sure the roads were open and then still go door to door to check on some of our residents," said Mayor Larry Gulledge. "Our Fire Department and our Police Department were running in every direction."

The Maryville Community Improvement Board spearheaded the decision to have the CERT team formed. They sought out volunteers and had them trained by members of the Collinsville CERT team.

The team will be under the authority of the Maryville Fire Department and Maryville Police Department and deployed as needed.

"If we have any kind of emergency here, we'll call them out, either to direct traffic or go door to door to check on residents," Gulledge said.

The team was officially activated at the Nov. 5 Village Board meeting.

The CERT team will direct traffic and make sure elderly or ill residents are safe during such emergencies, when the weather can make it especially dangerous for them.

Each member works on a volunteer basis and is not paid for their commitment to the team.

EUREKA: City signs on for CodeRED service

Residents receive severe weather alerts

By Danette Thompson
Wednesday, September 17, 2008 8:27 AM CDT

In an emergency, when seconds count, Eureka residents now have the option of an earlier warning.

The city recently contracted with CodeRED Emergency Notification System, a high-speed telephone communications system that allows city officials to send a message to residents alerting them to an emergency situation.

Eureka is the first city in St. Louis County to make use of the system.

In Franklin County, Union was the first to contract with CodeRED. Other cities in Franklin County, including Pacific, are looking at similar notification systems.

Eureka police successfully used the system for the first time last week, to notify residents of a potentially threatening storm.

"The system can call up to 50,000 numbers per hour," Police Chief Mike Wiegand said. "It's a great tool for the city and a valuable service to our residents and businesses. We can not only notify people about severe weather incidents such as floods or storms, but any other emergency situation that would require immediate action."

Wiegand said CodeRED could be used in the event of boil-water notices, missing children, evacuations and evacuation routes, fires, floods, bomb threats, hostage situations, hazardous material spills, gas leaks or any other situation that could pose an immediate threat to health and safety.

The system also could be used to notify Community Emergency Response Team volunteers, and direct them to areas of the city in need of their help, he said.

CERT volunteers assist emergency response personnel during crisis situations.

City officials record the message and then CodeRED delivers it to a person or answering machine either citywide or to an affected area of the city specified by officials.

For example, in the event of severe weather, the system would contact only residents and businesses in the direct path of the storm.

CodeRED weather warnings are sent a few minutes in advance of the activation of warning sirens, and weather radio or media alerts. Calls to affected residents begin five seconds after the National Weather Service issues a severe weather alert.

The service is available only to residents and businesses within the city limits.

Aldermen recently agreed to a yearlong contract with CodeRED at a cost of $11,200. Under that contract, the city gets 18,500 minutes of notifications.

Wiegand said with Eureka's population of a little more than 10,000 residents, that cost breaks down to just over $1 per person.

Eureka residents or businesses must register if they want to receive CodeRED alerts.

You can contact Danette Thompson at dthompson@yourjournal.com.

How to register for CodeRED

The CodeRED emergency notification service is available to Eureka residents and businesses only.

To register, go to the city's Web site at www.eureka.mo.us and click on the CodeRED icon.

Residents without Internet access can visit any public library to use a computer for registration, or call the Eureka Police Department at (636) 938-6600, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

You will need to provide the following information when registering: first and last names, physical address (no post office boxes), city, state, ZIP code and primary telephone number.

An alternative telephone number, such as a cell phone number, also can be entered. The system works with cell phone numbers but requires a Eureka street address.

In registering, there is a TDD-only option for hearing-impaired residents. Messages delivered to phone numbers marked TDD only will be delivered in a TDD/TTY format.

Residents who have a listed land line in Eureka already are registered for the CodeRED weather alert. Registration is required to receive other alerts.

Businesses, TDD users, residents who have moved or changed their telephone numbers within the last 12 months, people with unlisted telephone numbers, and cell phone users are not automatically registered for the weather or other alerts.

What members say about CERT training

"I think the biggest reward of the CERT program is the assurance of the opportunity to be able to deal with disaster in a safe, effective and professional way. There is nothing worse than to feel helpless when your family, friends and community needs your help. The training also teaches you the limits of your capability, so your safety is not compromised. There is the potential in these classes to be as prepared as one decides to be. Everyone can take something home from these classes that could easily save lives in the event of even a minor disaster."

-Delbert W. Wittenauer, Monroe County commissioner

"I was surprised at the depth of the training. It really helps prepare a person to deal with all sorts of disasters, big or small. I now feel more confident that I can help my family, friends, or community in an emergency situation and would recommend it to anyone."

-Susy Schweigert, public relations representative, Harrisonville Telephone Co.

"With our busy lives and hectic schedules, it was heartwarming to see group of people come together for a common cause. Not often do you find interested citizens willing to give up part of two consecutive weekends to obtain training for something you need to prepare for, but hope you will never have to use."

-Susan Harbaugh, chief financial officer, Human Support Services

"The program has greatly heightened my knowledge of home preparedness and neighborhood/community assistance in the event of emergencies. The 20 hours of education and hands-on learning were very beneficial."

-Bob Hoffmann, retired banker

"I worked in medical field for over 25 years. I have attended many refresher and recertification courses during that time. I found the CERT program a great source of training for lay and professional persons too. I hope that I never have to use the training in our community, but I'm certainly glad that I have the knowledge and skills in case I do. I encourage everyone to take the course even if it is for their own families safety."

-Marilyn Huddleston, booking agent for Steve Davis, "Elvis"

"In talking with people who completed the training in the CERT program, they see a need for a volunteer program where people who are trained to help, know what to expect in a disaster and how to handle it."

-Don Dietz, former County Commissioner

CERT group wants churches involved in disaster plan

By Joe Leicht
Monday, September 15, 2008 9:23 AM CDT

Monroe County's emergency-preparedness leaders want the local communities of faith to join them on the front lines should the area ever be struck with a natural or manmade disaster.

Monroe County Citizens Corps Council President Kim Strellis hosted a meeting of pastors from several churches, inviting them to initiate disaster plans for their congregations and possibly to cooperate in a joint effort to help the county weather a catastrophe.

The meeting was Monday at the Monroe County Courthouse.

"It's great that we have all of these churches together. If you, as pastors, didn't care, you wouldn't be here," Strellis said.

Bi-County Health Department Administrator Tom Smith, a founding member of the county's Community Emergency Response Team, said the December 2006 evacuation of the Monroe County Care & Rehabilitation Center due to an ice storm showed the importance of churches at times of distress.

"We didn't invent this out of whole cloth," Smith said. "(Concord Presbyterian Church of Waterloo) was looking for a project for the betterment of the community. That's when the ice storm hit. The church as well as a number of other groups and individuals evacuated the home, which is a monumental task. And no one was hurt, which is fantastic.

"Most pastors have excellent counseling skills-that's why you're pastors. You are the immediate 'first responders' to your congregation."

Martha Hawn, a mental health professional who is a member of the Citizens Corps Council, said, "the last person (when a disaster hits) some people will want to talk to is a mental health specialist."

"They're going to go to the people they know and trust," she said. "That's the pastors in this room."

Waterloo Mayor Tom Smith (no relation to the health administrator) said churches can provide more than spiritual support during a disaster.

"You have facilities for housing, feeding people and gathering information so our citizens can be informed," he said.

Strellis suggested the clergy designate a representative to become a member of the Citizens Corps.

"It was great to see so many churches from the county represented at the event," the Rev. Mary Beth Hartenstein of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Waterloo said. "Truly it would be my hope that in the event of an actual disaster that we would all lay aside our differences and focus on the most important thing we hold in common-our humanity.

"In a time of crisis, it would be my hope that no one would care whether I am progressive or conservative in my political views, what my opinion is on marriage equality is, or whether I support reproductive rights. It would be my hope that everyone would be willing to hold one another's hand to offer support and care. I hope that this will be an opportunity to work ecumenically together for the common good of all people."

The Rev. Will Hesterberg of Concord Presbyterian Church in Waterloo said getting the churches to assume a role in any disaster plan "only makes logical sense."

"We touch lives everywhere, we are aware of a lot of people and their needs," he said. "And we do have certain resources in our churches that would be helpful in a disaster. (Handling a disaster) is simply too big a job for any one group."

MCCCC 'unified and ready"

By Kim Strellis
Wednesday, September 10, 2008 8:48 AM CDT

The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council's mission is to unify agencies, citizens, communities and resources of Monroe County to develop a coordinated response in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.

The by-laws and operating plan were approved in July 2008, marking a new path for our county, involving all the citizens of Monroe County with the goal of being "Unified and Ready." The council is honored to be working through the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency under the direction of Gene Henckler.

The MCCCC is located in Room 14 of the Monroe County Courthouse, 100 S. Main St., Waterloo Illinois. Meetings are at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month and are open to the public.

The County Emergency Management Agency, Room 14, is also open for the public to stop by, ask questions or view the county emergency plan. Please call (618) 939-8681, ext. 214, as office time varies. Also you may view the plan on the Web site monroecountyil.org go to Departments/EMA.

Monroe County Citizen Corps works directly with federal and state guidelines to reflect the Citizen Corps Mission "to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds."

The council also promotes and provides a means of communication and coordination among the Citizen Corps programs throughout Illinois and Missouri.

The council's objectives include:

-Promoting unity between Monroe County Citizens/First Responders/County EMA and an understanding of each entities function and needs in a disaster. Monroe County's "Unified and Ready" campaign, works closely with county government/first responders/educational institutions/seniors/all citizens and groups to meet their needs and educate the citizens on being prepared. An example is the working relationship with the Monroe County Ambulance and EMA office to get the word out to persons who are on power generated life support systems that they need to have a back up battery and they can fill out a form provided by the Ambulance service so their need can be identified with the county.

-Focusing on public education, training and volunteer opportunities for community, family safety and special needs. The Monroe County Council conducts public education and outreach efforts through "ATR" (Assess Think Respond) presentations to civic organizations, scouts, seniors, libraries, businesses, churches, schools and other county venues.

-Overseeing and promoting Monroe County CERT-Community Emergency Response Team. MC CERT's mission is to educate and train citizens of Monroe County to be prepared in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Classes and training improve individual emergency prevention, preparedness, and response capabilities. Training includes basic first aid, fire suppression PASS, light search and rescue, terrorism and hazardous materials.

in honor of September is National Disaster Preparedness Awareness Month The Monroe County Citizen Corps Council and the Monroe County Emergency Management Agency extend an invitation to you to attend the "Unified and Ready" Monroe County Disaster Preparedness Day from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday (Sept. 13) on the Monroe County Courthouse grounds.

Kim Strellis is a member of MCCCC.

WINDSOR C-1: Teens train in disaster response

Rock Community provides preparedness courses to students


By Trish Wallace
Thursday, September 4, 2008 8:47 AM CDT

In case of a natural disaster or county-wide emergency, a select group of students at Windsor High School could be their classmates' saving grace.

The students make up the school's teen version of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), groups of citizens who are trained to respond to emergencies in their areas in the first several hours following a disaster, such as an earthquake. The trained individuals maintain their immediate locations until emergency personnel can arrive.

Members of Teen CERT at Windsor are chosen from among the school's most elite academic performers. Training for the program occasionally requires students to miss class, so the school is careful to select students with strong academic standing to participate.

This year's Teen CERT training began last week.

Ron Harder, public information officer for Rock Community Fire Protection District, said the first day of training consisted of mostly classroom instruction and included an entire walk-through of the school building. During the walk-through students learned about potential danger sites, such as the commons area that is surrounded by many windows, and where resources such as tools and wood are located.

The second day included more hands-on activities, including cribbing and lever practice for moving heavy material in the event of a building collapse, light search and rescue training and use of fire extinguishers.

As students approached a controlled flame in pairs, Harder said teamwork is the most important goal.

In addition to putting out fires and handling structural damage, the teens involved with the program learn basic first aid, triage and disaster psychology-the impact a disaster can have on them. After the initial two days of training, the group meets again every month.

Teen CERT began four or five years ago with the influence of Deputy Chief Kevin Grimshaw of Rock Community. The idea for Teen CERT was developed during a phone conversation with Ruth Wisdom, a former school nurse at Windsor. She asked Grimshaw how the school should respond to a disaster. Through their conversation, Teen CERT was born.

As a 1984 Windsor graduate, the program is close to Grimshaw's heart.

"That makes it really neat for me," he said. "It's neat to give back."

Neighbors Helping Neighbors Locally and Around the World

New Citizen Corps Blog Launched
http://citizencorps.blogspot.com/

Wentzville teen class graduates from CERT

Youth learn disaster response skills

Sunday, July 27, 2008 7:25 AM CDT

There's no age limit when it comes to emergency responders.

The Wentzville Fire Protection District and Wentzville Police Department, sponsors of the Adult and Teen Community Emergency Response Teams, graduated six members in May from their first Teen CERT class.

The 20-hour Teen CERT program offers training to youth ages 13 to 18. The training teaches first aid procedures, search and rescue procedures, mental health aspects in dealing with disasters, fire suppression and organizational procedures. Two-hour classes were held twice a week at the Wentzville Law Enforcement Center, 1019 Schroeder Creek Blvd. Representatives from the fire district, police department and the Crider Center for Mental Health taught the classes.

Prior to the graduation, the teens spent three hours at Rotary Park, where they practiced their new skills in simulated exercises. Parents of the teens acted as victims of a disaster during a search and rescue simulation, the teens also conducted a simulation search of the area for a missing child. Upon finding the child, they administered the required first aid, stabilized and transported the victim for further assessment.

Program officials say the teens will be a great asset to an already successful CERT program, and that emergency responders can count on them when resources become depleted because of large-scale events.

The next Wentzville sponsored CERT and Teen CERT classes are to start in early September. To sign up or for more information, e-mail officer Phil Yocum at phily@wentzvillemo.org or call him at 636-639-2131.

Crestwood receives equipment to help train residents

Homeland Security money used for citizen response teams

By Steve Birmingham
Saturday, July 19, 2008 9:56 AM CDT

Crestwood citizens trained to help their neighbors during a catastrophic emergency will have a place to store the tools of their trade.

Thanks to the city of Crestwood and the St. Louis Area Regional Response System, or STARRS.

STARRS, an effort of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, uses federal grants to help local governments plan for, protect against and recover from natural or man-made crises.

The agreement to accept the donation from STARRS of 55 backpacks, valued at $50 each, means residents trained as Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, members will be able to carry first-aid kits, tools, safety equipment and other items if they ever have to respond in times of emergencies, said Crestwood Deputy Police Chief Frank Arnoldy.

Arnoldy, who is part of the city's CERT training staff, said "if we didn't have this agreement with STARRS to get these backpacks we'd have to decide whether we would fund it or not."

"What we do is fund, through Homeland Security grants, various resources, whether it's in the fire department, police department, public health or hospitals, that could be needed when a disaster occurs," said STARRS Executive Director Dominic "Nick" Gragnani.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security provides the money to the St. Louis metropolitan region and STARRS directs it to different initiatives and groups that are underway to help mitigate a disaster or get prepared for one when it does occur, Gragnani said.

One of those initiatives is the Citizen Corps, which "is similar to the Peace Corps, although at the local level they help citizenry get ready for when something major does occur," Grignani said.

"Within the Citizen Corps are different component. One of them being the Community Emergency Response Team concept," he said. "CERT helps prepare neighborhoods to deal with the disaster on their own until the emergency response is there to assist them."

The Citizen Corps trains neighborhood watch groups, clubs and other smaller groups to perform damage assessments, light searches and rescues, fire suppression and general first aid, Grignani said.

The city's agreement with STARRS allows the group to bring the residents a deeper understanding of what it takes to deal with disasters and the aftermath.

"I kind of refer to it as the Godfather agreement, where we're willing to do this for you, with the understanding that come someday that need is going to be there and you will respond to the citizens of Crestwood," he said.

Crestwood's CERT program teaches volunteers, after a 20-hour training course by the city's police and fire department, "to care for themselves and their neighbors if we have a major event or incident," Arnoldy said.

The specially made backpacks will hold, among other items, a mask, hard hat, work gloves, safety goggles, whistle and lanyard, orange CERT safety vest, flashlight, four-in-one spark-proof tool for shutting off utility lines and appliances, an adjustable wrench, duct tape, blanket, tarpaulin, utility knife, ear plugs, first aid kit and triage equipment.

Arnoldy said in times of catastrophic emergencies people have to be prepared to possibly fend for themselves for at least 96 hours without outside help.

"We're always looking for more people to get involved so they can be trained to take care of themselves and their families and neighborhood," Arnoldy said. "During an earthquake or weather-related things like tornadoes and ice storms, even electrical outages, during all those things you need to have supplies set aside and know how to take care of yourself and others until help arrives."

There are approximately 100 CERT-trained residents in Crestwood, Arnoldy said, and about 3,000 in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.

There is a CERT training session already in progress in Crestwood but there is a waiting list for future classes.

Interested residents can contact Assistant Fire Chief Mark Menning at (314) 729-4741, or at www.metrowestcert.com.

Emergency helpers

Maryville to form amateur response team

By Mike Terry
Thursday, July 10, 2008 8:57 AM CDT

The Maryville Community Improvement Board is currently on the lookout for volunteers interested in joining a response team that would assist emergency services if a major disaster ever hit the village.

The new Community Emergency Response Team will be open to anyone over 14 and will hold its first training session on July 17.

"We did some research," said team organizer Dan Wright, who is also a member of the improvement board. "With the storms we have had and the recent earthquake, we thought it would be a good idea."

In a community like Maryville, which utilizes an all-volunteer fire department and operates with a limited number of police officers, Wright said that emergency officials can find themselves with their hands full very quickly.

Members of the CERT team will be trained in basic first aid, search and rescue, evaluating a disaster scene and how to survive without help for a period of at least 72 hours. By having CERT members taking care of the small matters, the professionals will have more ability to handle more serious situations.

"Nobody (on the CERT team) will be doing advanced medical procedures," he said. "But we can help by checking on people."

Once organized, Wright expects the team will operate through a phone tree with a centralized meeting point somewhere in Maryville. In the instance of something like a widespread power outage or a major storm, members would be dispatched to check area neighborhoods, senior living centers and other parts of the village to make sure everyone is all right.

Training will be handled by members of Collinsville's Emergency Response Team.

No experience will be necessary to join, although teenagers under 18 will need to obtain permission from their parents. Wright said they would be able to find a place for anyone, regardless of their age or physical capabilities, and nobody would be asked to do something they couldn't handle.

"We will only put people where they are comfortable," he said. "It's only as strenuous as you would make it."

Materials and training will be provided at no cost. Wright said they would like to have around 25 on the team and have already been spreading the word with fliers. Those interested should contact him or his wife Courtney at 205-3204.

ROCK COMMUNITY: Citizens train as emergency workers

By Trish Wallace
Wednesday, July 2, 2008 10:23 AM CDT

When local disasters threaten Jefferson County communities, trained volunteers are ready.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates citizens on how to care for themselves and their surrounding areas in the first few hours of an emergency, before first responders arrive.

The Rock Community Fire Protection District is teaming with the Jefferson County Citizen Corps (JCCC) to offer a new branch of the Jefferson County CERT program.

Through CERT, citizens learn about disaster preparedness and receive training in basic response skills including first aid, CPR, fire safety, light search and rescue, medical operations, team organization and an overview of terrorism.

Ron Harder, Rock Community public information officer, said CERT training teaches volunteers how to identify and reduce potential hazards in their own homes and neighborhoods.

The new program will offer a localized group of CERT volunteers to serve as an extension of the fire district.

"It will create an arm of Rock Community in conjunction with Jefferson County CERT," Harder said.

The goal of the Rock Community CERT team will be to not only have a trained citizen team trained and ready, but to have a team that will also volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness in their own neighborhoods.

Rock Community is hosting an informational meeting 7 p.m. July 8 at House 4, located at 3889 Miller Road in Arnold. Attendees are under no obligation to commit to training or volunteering at the meeting, and no qualifications are required to begin CERT training.

To become a trained CERT volunteer, local residents must participate in a 20-hour training program approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Expenses for CERT training is covered by the Department of Homeland Security's Citizen Corps Grant program.

For more information, visit the district's Web site at www.rockfire-rescue.org or call 636-296-2211.

Playing pretend is serious business

Emergency responders participate in crisis simulation at Jamestown Mall

By Scott Bandle
Tuesday, May 27, 2008 3:23 PM CDT

About 12 people ran out the door when the fire truck arrived, sirens blaring.

"Help! The second and third floors have collapsed!" they shouted, pointing to the empty store at Jamestown Mall. "People are injured!"

And so began a training exercise to give North County's emergency personnel a chance to practice how they would respond to a mass casualty incident. Seven North County fire departments and districts, Christian Hospital and the St. Louis County Police took part in the drill Thursday in the vacant Dillard's store at Jamestown Mall.The drill was for firefighters, police officers and paramedics to test their abilities to communicate and work within the National Incident Management System. The system, mandated by President George W. Bush, was established after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We wanted to really test the firefighters," Black Jack Battalion Chief Dennis Hohl said. "Rather than have just a tornado or a fire, we're calling it an 'isolated collapse of unknown origin.' It covers everything.

"Volunteers acted as the victims, complete with makeup, fake blood, and screams and moans. Some pretended to be severely injured, while others walked around acting disoriented. Fake smoke cast a white haze throughout the building.

Cathy Dahmer, 69, of Ferguson, pretended to be trapped on the floor under a pile of rubble, with a broken leg and cuts and bruises on her face. A small dummy nearby was her injured "grandson." Dahmer, a member of the Ferguson Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), patiently waited for firefighters to reach her.

"The drill is a good thing," Dahmer said. "It makes me want to go home and refresh my memory from the (CERT) textbook about what to do in this kind of situation.

"Her husband Ollie Dahmer, 70, said while it was fun, it was serious business. He participated last year, and firefighters couldn't find him in the smoke.

"They couldn't locate me," he said. "We're all kind of joking around, but these kind of drills are important.

"North Technical High School sent a group of students to volunteer for the drill. Florissant resident Thomas Bradley, 18, took law-enforcement classes at the school.

However, he also had another skill to help him on Thursday. "I've taken acting lessons," he said.

The "victims" had different kinds of injuries. James Kartmann, 70, of Ferguson, was rolled up in electric wiring, writhing in pretend agony as an electrocution victim. With the help of makeup, Overland resident Victoria Phillips, 17, appeared to have a fracture and a gash on her leg.

One by one, firefighters and emergency medical service teams tracked down the victims and treated them.

The fire departments will analyze and discuss the results of the drill, said Spanish Lake Deputy Chief Michael Flavin.

"We'll look at what we did, how much time it took," Flavin said. "We'll discuss ways to improve our responses.

"Meanwhile, Jamestown Mall officials were happy to lend the vacant Dillard's store for the simulation, said Marketing Director and Leasing Manager Dennis Kassel.

"We're pleased we could help the community," he said. "We have a good relationship with the Black Jack Fire District.

"One volunteer did pay homage to the store's history.

"Maybe one of the injuries could be from a shopping stampede," Kartmann said.

Emergency preparedness training planned in St. Peters

Tuesday, May 6, 2008 8:39 AM CDT

The city of St. Peters and Central County Fire and Rescue are inviting residents to join the Citizens Emergency Response Team.

The fire district is accepting applications for its next CERT training course scheduled for May 10, 17 and 20 at Wesleyan Church, 250 Salt Lick Road in St. Peters.

Participants will receive training about the following topics: disaster preparedness, fire safety/suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and a hands-on disaster exercise.

Trainees will be issued emergency preparedness equipment and a student manual. There is a $25 registration charge, and all equipment and materials will be provided.

For more information contact Assistant Fire Chief Steve Brown at 636-970-9700, ext. 403.

Adopt-A-Highway: St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council adopts Highway 70 at Bryan Road

In April, just prior to the No MOre Trash! Bash 2008, the St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council adopted a one-mile stretch of Interstate 70 east and west of Bryan Road. Several volunteers collected more than 47 of the over 84,000 bags of litter from Missouri's roadways, streams and other public areas.

The purpose of the Adopt-A-Highway program is to provide community support for litter prevention and highway beautification efforts.

The Missouri Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining about 385,000 acres of right of way. Much of this consists of the roadsides along the highway. Because of this large task, MoDOT started the Adopt-A-Highway program in the fall of 1987. The program allows the public to become personally involved in improving our environment and helping to keep Missouri's roadsides beautiful.

The adopted portion of Highway 70 extends 1/2 mile east and west of the Bryan Road overpass on both sides of the interstate.

Weldon Spring, Cottleville join forces for Citizen’s Corp

By Mary Ann O'Toole Holley

Becoming part of the Cottleville or Weldon Spring Citizen’s Corp won’t put you in uniform, send you overseas, or send you to boot camp. It will, however, prepare you to help your family, your neighbors and others in daily life and in case of a widespread emergency.

The Cottleville Fire Protection District and Weldon Spring officials are promoting community involvement between their emergency services and everyday residents by providing an upcoming 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program for city residents.

Seminars will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. May 16; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18, at the Cottleville Fire District’s main station, 1385 Motherhead Road (at Hwy. N) in Cottleville.

Participants will learn disaster preparedness, how to perform light searches and rescue missions and to respond to community threats. If a disaster should take place in the area, those who complete the training will be able to work with city emergency response teams, using response and organization skills learned in the program.

CERT training was started in 1994 by the Los Angeles Fire Department and continues to be promoted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Cottleville Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Scott Freitag, a trainer in the CERT program, says having an informed Citizen’s Corp will be a Godsend for area firefighters, emergency response teams and for area residents.

“It will help the Cottleville Fire Protection District and every resident in the areas we cover,” Freitag said. “This is the second program for Cottleville. But this time, we’re combining our resources to make our teams stronger.”

The first program was very successful, Freitag said. The people enjoyed it and had an opportunity to find out more about emergency services that service their area. But more importantly, they learned how to take care of themselves, their families and community in case of disaster, Freitag said.

Professional trainers will teach residents about disaster preparedness that can be used and passed on to teach their neighbors. They will learn basic first aid, about light search and rescue and how to evaluate an emergency scene, working within their training boundaries, Freitag said. They will also learn basic fire suppression—how to use a fire extinguisher and will learn more about the National Internet Management System—an offshoot of what the fire service has used for years as an incident command system.

“There are absolutely situations where we wish residents could pitch in to help. The situation that comes to mind is that St. Charles has had numerous storms that really taxed emergency services,” Freitag said. “They were able to call in residents to help road closures, clearing debris and more.”

Freitag said CERT volunteers would also be able to help during ice storms or any disaster situation.

“We may be able to bring in these folks to help with contacting senior citizens during power outages, heat waves and major storms in the area. When you have something of a disaster happen and all the firefighters are out, it’s a great time to use the services of CERT members – whether during a roadblock or when wires are down. To have people out scouting to see if a firefighter could help would be a huge benefit to the community. We would have volunteers ready, willing and able to help in any capacity including filling sandbags and setting up shelters during flooding conditions.”

Sonja Zeis, the Weldon Spring CERT coordinator, said the Weldon Spring team was formed in August 2007 with after 27 members were trained. There are currently eight active members, but the city would like to see as many as possible.

“The city tries to hold trainings twice a year, but partnered with Cottleville this year to increase resources, and because it’s always better to train with a bigger group,” Zeis said.

Cottleville has the fire department, Emergency Response Team and police management training, so it provides better connections, Zeis said.

The CERT Program is hands-on,” Zeis said. In case of a mega-disaster, it is good for citizens to know how to self-sustain for at least three to seven days. It’s also good to have people trained to help their neighbors, she said. If a violent storm or tornado took place and a neighbor had a tree on top of her, for example, they’d know how to get help to get him or her out safely.

Weldon Spring City Administrator Michael Padella, who also serves as emergency director for the city, said the CERT program wouldn’t be successful without residents and lay people volunteering their time and staying active.

“It’s completely based upon general public participation. That’s what it’s geared toward,” Padella said. “The program is still gaining steam, and we have not activated a CERT team, but there are opportunities whether they’re in or out of the city.”

Padella said with recent flooding near the Meramec River, there was a request for volunteers from Weldon Spring.

“Even if it’s one or two people, if you get that from every CERT team in the area you’ve got plenty of volunteers,” Padella said. “We are fortunate that we haven’t had anything that hasn’t lasted more than a day, but we have an elderly population, and if there is a widespread storm, firefighters and police will be taxed and CERT volunteers could fill a great need.”

Weldon Spring has also purchased a CERT portable trailer as a disaster assistant point. In case of a disaster, supplies and materials will be portable and available to help emergency responders. The city is also working on an inter-operable communication plan for the city to facilitate communications with residents and with emergency operation centers in Cottleville and St. Charles County.

“If we had a radio frequency that could communicate directly with our residents, we could somehow get on that frequency to send out immediate messages and let citizens know they need to take cover or evacuate because of a chemical spill or catastrophe,” Zeis said. “We want them to know what to do, and where to go.”

The communication system is currently under development, but in the meantime, Zeis says the first order of business is to create a strong Citizen’s Corps.

“It’s good that the community has a program to train others to respond to disasters because we live in an area that could have power outages, tornados and severe thunder storms. We are also close to the highway, and, who knows. A chemical spill could occur. With a Citizen’s Corps, we’d be ready,” Zeis said.

Volunteers don’t need a medical background, but need only common sense. The basic rule is to teach people to determine how many are down and who needs assistance. CERT volunteers will not administer CPR or provide medical care.

“For the average person, anyone can learn this to help themselves or others in case of a disaster,” Zeis said. “The more experience you have, the better prepared you are. Practice improves preparedness; that’s our motto.”

Sign on to become a member of the Citizen’s Corp at the Weldon Spring City Hall, 5401 Independence Road or Cottleville City Hall, 5377 Hwy. N, Suite A. Registration deadline is May 2. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. Breakfast and lunch will be provided during the May 17 and 18 training sessions. Class space is limited and there is a registration fee of $25.

For more information, visit the Weldon Spring Web site at www.weldonspring.org; call Judy Claus at the Cottleville Fire Protection District at 636-447-6655; or email weldonspringcert@yahoo.com, and someone will contact you.

The Emergency Action Plan Committee (open to the public) meets on the third Thursday of the month at City Hall at 6:30 p.m. City contacts are Alderman Dick Jelen at djelen@weldonspring.org (928-9297) or City Emergency Management Director Michael Padella, at mpadella@weldonspring.org (441-2110 x102).

Reprinted from Mid Rivers Newsmagazine

County leader is making sure we're ready for anything

County leader is making sure we're ready for anything

By Susan Weich
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
03/25/2008

Homeland security begins at home. That's the mantra of Mark Rosenblum.

He's the new chairman of the St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council and has been working hard to beef up the citizen response to emergencies since he took office in January.

"It's something I'm very passionate about," he said. "It scares me to death that some are trusting the national government to do everything.

"Rosenblum, 45, has a good reason for his strong feelings. He was a supervisor for Savvis Communications on Sept. 11, 2001. He had taken the day off because his daughter, Emily, was sick. They were spending the day at home, which was in Hazelwood at the time.

He got a phone call that morning from a relative asking him what he thought about what was going on in New York. When he clicked on the television, he saw that a plane had crashed into the first tower. Besides the shock of what he saw, Rosenblum was thinking of something else: 10 of his employees were working in the other tower.

"I immediately called my people, and I said, 'Look, I don't know what's going on, but I think that tower could possibly fall over and hit your tower. You guys might want to get out of there,'" he said.

A few minutes later, a plane crashed into the second tower, but every one of his employees got out safely.

As he continued to watch the coverage of the disaster, he heard that all airline flights had been grounded, and he started to think about the travelers who were stranded at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

He called Lambert and offered his home to anyone who needed a place to stay, but he didn't know what more he could do to help.

Rosenblum said he had worked with his father as a volunteer for the Red Cross several times, but Sept. 11 changed him.

"I knew I had to do something more," he said.

When he and his family moved to Wentzville in 2003, he contacted the emergency management director and helped start that city's Citizen Emergency Response Team, or CERT.

Its members go through an initial 20-hour training course and refresher courses every quarter. They provide support to police, fire and ambulance personnel, assist victims and organize volunteers at a disaster site.

In 2007, the cities united into a countywide effort, which Rosenblum now leads.

About 500 residents in St. Charles County have been trained to respond to everything from heat waves to terrorist attacks. Rosenblum is hoping to build those ranks with anyone who wants to participate.

Although the Citizen Emergency team gets most of the publicity, Rosenblum said other opportunities exist. Those include USAonWatch, an expanded version of the neighborhood watch program, and Volunteers in Police Service and Fire Corps, which allows citizens to assist police and firefighters in nonoperational roles. Another program is the Medical Reserve Corps, where citizens assist doctors and nurses in large-scale emergency situations.

"Anything that's going to help the citizens to be better prepared, that's my goal," Rosenblum said.

He said he is taking the program forward by forming partnerships with other agencies, such as the Red Cross, which can help Citizen Corps members get CPR training. The group also is teaming with places such as the Crider Center, which can assist with psychological wellness in a disaster, and Sts. Joachim and Ann, which can help with things such as housing and clothing.

In addition, he is training teams of teenagers and soon will have the first team in the state made up of hearing- and sight-impaired volunteers. Both will be needed in an emergency, he said.

"This is what I think the Citizen Corps was meant to be — a network of all these people so that we can pull on each other's strengths," Rosenblum said.

Mike Hays, who is vice chairman of the corps, said the group has made great strides already under Rosenblum's leadership.

"Mark energizes programs through his positive nature," he said. "His sense of public involvement drives people to want to help and get behind a project and work together."

Volunteer Doris Clark described Rosenblum as "unbelievably wonderful" and said that, like Rosenblum, it is in her nature to get involved. "We need to be concerned for our neighbor, and we need to reach out that helping hand when it's needed," she said.

To learn more, contact the Division of Emergency Management at 636-949-3023 or the Red Cross at 636-397-1074.

Pacific, Eureka officials, volunteers working feverishly against flood

Preparation better than it was in 1982

By Danette Thompson
Saturday, March 22, 2008 7:05 AM CDT

Aided by dozens of volunteers, local emergency and city officials are focusing on resident safety and doing what they can to protect homes and businesses as area rivers continue to rise.

Flood waters from the Meramec and Big rivers have closed roads and forced many Eureka and Pacific residents out of their homes into local hotels, friends' or family's houses or to emergency shelters.

"Eureka has become four different islands," said Kate Moore, public information officer for the Eureka Fire Protection District. "We've got several areas that are completely shut off - Hoehne Springs (along Highway W), the Highway FF area, Highway 109 and Allenton. We encouraged people in those areas to leave, and most of them evacuated, but we've got about 10 people who just aren't going to go."

Eureka firefighters already have been called to rescue several people who tried to drive through flooded areas, and Moore said emergency officials expect they'll be called out again before the flood waters recede late this weekend.

Many times those rescues become a necessity because people try to drive or steer a boat through flood waters, Moore said.

"We try our best to warn people against it, but there are people who underestimate the force of the flood waters and who think their vehicle or their boat can get through," Moore said. "But they can't see what's underneath that water. The road could be washed away or there could be a swing set or a car that a boat could hit.

"It's not worth risking your life or the lives of the emergency responders. If people would just heed the warnings, then most of these incidents could be avoided."

Pacific officials coping with the evacuation of the city's south side also tried to curb the potential for traffic congestion and other problems by asking people not affected to stay away.

"We've had difficulty with people coming into the area and gawking," said Dian Becker, city emergency management director. "It adds to traffic congestion and it interferes with our efforts to monitor water levels on streets that will need to be closed for citizen safety. We're asking people who are not from the potential affected areas to please stay away."

Becker said the Pacific Police Department has increased patrols in the area to help control traffic in and out and to provide additional security.

Both cities also are coordinating volunteer sandbagging efforts and looking ahead to the end of the weekend, when the flood waters recede and a major cleanup effort begins.

"We're doing all we can to save homes and businesses from damage," said Pacific City Administrator Harold Selby. "We can only do so much because while we know where the water is going to go, we don't know what role development in the community over the last 25 years is going to play."

The last record flood in the area was in December 1982.

Eureka Mayor Kevin Coffey said there are some areas of Eureka severely affected by record 1982 floods that have been converted to green space or park land.

Eureka's Kircher Park on Williams Road once was a trailer court. The city also negotiated a buyout of several properties in the Meramec River bottoms area around Eureka.

That doesn't mean the flooding predicted for Eureka - expected to exceed the record high crest of 42.9 feet in 1982 - will leave the city unscathed.

Businesses along Central Avenue and in the old downtown area surrounded their buildings with sandbag walls in anticipation of flooding in that part of town. Other areas of the city, including the Elk Trails subdivision and along Highway 109 and Alt Road, were expected to be affected by flood waters.

Nearly 200 people, from children to senior citizens, showed up Thursday along the Highway W spur to help fill about 15,000 sandbags and deliver them to potentially affected areas of the city.

Coffey said once the waters recede, the city has about 150 trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers and another 50 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts ready to help assist with the cleanup efforts.

"Our priorities are first and foremost, that no one is hurt or killed," Coffey said. "Then we want to protect property as much as possible and, finally, minimize the inconvenience. Hopefully, when it's all said and done, the worst of it will be the inconvenience."

Although church groups, students, civic organizations and individuals offered Pacific help in preparing for the impending flood, Selby said more help will be needed with the cleanup effort.

Officials in both cities were coordinating response efforts through St. Louis County and Franklin County emergency management agencies, and working with the American Red Cross to ensure there is emergency shelter available to those who need it.

"We've got good emergency response plans in place, and there's been a tremendous outpouring of help in the community," Coffey said. "Compared to 1982, we have a much better coordinated response effort. We will survive this, and help will be there for the people who need it."

Red Cross volunteer teaches kids preparedness

By Sarah Whitney
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:13 AM CDT

Warrenton resident William Dennager reads every piece of fan mail he gets - which is a lot - but he's not a movie star or an author. He's a volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Hundreds of elementary school students have sent Dennager - whom they affectionately call "Mr. Bill" - letters thanking him for teaching them about disaster preparedness.

Dennager will visit 10 to 15 elementary schools throughout St. Charles County four times this school year to teach the American Red Cross's "Be Ready Program" on earthquakes, tornadoes, fires and winter storms. He's also presented to seniors at Lakeview Estates in Warrenton.

Brad Farber, supervisor of the St. Charles County Service Center and Dennager's boss, said he gets a kick out of how much fan mail Dennager receives and even displays some of the letters at the service center.

The 67-year-old retiree received an even bigger thank you Friday for his presentations when he was awarded the Community Disaster Education Award during the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter and the St. Charles Service Center's Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Dennager said he appreciates the recognition, but wants to emphasize it's not just him.

"It's not an individual thing, its a community thing. That's the strength, people partnering with each other no matter if they're from Wentzville, St. Charles or Warrenton," he said.

Dennager joined the Red Cross in 2005 at the encouragement of his wife Nancy, 65, also a Red Cross volunteer. The couple also are volunteers for the Warren County Community Emergency Response Team and have traveled to Atlanta to provide disaster relief after a 2004 hurricane swept through the area.

If it wasn't for citizens like the Dennagers, programs like CERT and the Red Cross wouldn't be as effective, said Mike Daniels, director of Warren County's Emergency Management Agency.

Dennager received the award because last year he helped the Red Cross teach more than 20,000 school children about disaster preparedness, Farber said. This year the program has already reached more than 13,000 school children.

What makes Mr. Bill so unique is his ability to connect with children on an individual level, Farber said.

"They hang on his every word," he said.

Rachel Damlow, second-grade teacher at Twin Chimneys Elementary School in O'Fallon, echoed Farber's observation, describing Dennager - who visited her class Tuesday - as patient and understanding with children.

"He's very good at getting the message across so they understand it," she said.

She said her class gets excited when Mr. Bill visits.

Dennager brings stuffed animals that act as mascots for that presentation. For tornadoes, there's Twister Turtle. For fires, there's Cool Cat. For winter storms, Ready Rabbit. And earthquakes, Disaster Dog.

"Twister Turtle, Ready Rabbit will help ease that tension. That way, they feel more comfortable learning about the different disasters," he said.

Dennager is not the only volunteer to give such presentations, but Farber said he is the volunteer schools request by name on a repeat basis.

"That's another real indicator of his effectiveness and ability to reach children and adults," he said.

Red Cross volunteer teaches kids preparedness

By Sarah Whitney
Wednesday, March 19, 2008 11:13 AM CDT

Warrenton resident William Dennager reads every piece of fan mail he gets - which is a lot - but he's not a movie star or an author. He's a volunteer with the American Red Cross.

Hundreds of elementary school students have sent Dennager - whom they affectionately call "Mr. Bill" - letters thanking him for teaching them about disaster preparedness.

Dennager will visit 10 to 15 elementary schools throughout St. Charles County four times this school year to teach the American Red Cross' "Be Ready Program" on earthquakes, tornadoes, fires and winter storms. He's also presented to seniors at Lakeview Estates in Warrenton. Brad Farber, supervisor of the St. Charles County Service Center and Dennager's boss, said he gets a kick out of how much fan mail Dennager receives and even displays some of the letters at the service center.

The 67-year-old retiree received an even bigger thank you Friday for his presentations when he was awarded the Community Disaster Education Award during the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter and the St. Charles Service Center's Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon.

Dennager said he appreciates the recognition, but wants to emphasize it's not just him.

"It's not an individual thing, its a community thing. That's the strength, people partnering with each other no matter if they're from Wentzville, St. Charles or Warrenton," he said.

Dennager joined the Red Cross in 2005 at the encouragement of his wife Nancy, 65, also a Red Cross volunteer. The couple also are volunteers for the Warren County Community Emergency Response Team and have traveled to Atlanta to provide disaster relief after a 2004 hurricane swept through the area.

If it wasn't for citizens like the Dennagers, programs like CERT and the Red Cross wouldn't be as effective, said Mike Daniels, director of Warren County's Emergency Management Agency.

Dennager received the award because last year he helped the Red Cross teach more than 20,000 school children about disaster preparedness, Farber said. This year the program has already reached more than 13,000 school children.

What makes Mr. Bill so unique is his ability to connect with children on an individual level, Farber said.

"They hang on his every word," he said.

Rachel Damlow, second-grade teacher at Twin Chimneys Elementary School in O'Fallon, echoed Farber's observation, describing Dennager - who visited her class Tuesday - as patient and understanding with children.

"He's very good at getting the message across so they understand it," she said.

She said her class gets excited when Mr. Bill visits.

Dennager brings stuffed animals that act as mascots for that presentation. For tornadoes, there's Twister Turtle. For fires, there's Cool Cat. For winter storms, Ready Rabbit. And earthquakes, Disaster Dog.

"Twister Turtle, Ready Rabbit will help ease that tension. That way, they feel more comfortable learning about the different disasters," he said.

Dennager is not the only volunteer to give such presentations, but Farber said he is the volunteer schools request by name on a repeat basis.

"That's another real indicator of his effectiveness and ability to reach children and adults," he said.

St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council Seeks Volunteers to Strengthen Homeland Security Effort

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Rita Konertz-Lee, Secretary/Treasurer
St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council
(636-332-0790 or 636-279-1726)
(cstarsc@hotmail.com)

St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council Seeks Volunteers to Strengthen Homeland Security Effort

(March 3, 2008 – St. Charles County, MO) Homeland security begins at home. At least that is the assertion of St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council, which is continuing to grow throughout the county to strengthen local communities against the dangers of terrorism, crime and natural disasters.

The formation of Citizen Corps on a national level is the result of selflessness and heroism that followed the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. As a result, people began to question: how such a disaster might be prevented in the future, and if such another disaster should occur, how they could best prepare for and respond to it. Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service.

"Citizen Corps is a critical component of our work to prepare the homeland by getting citizens prepared, trained and involved," said Tracy Henke, Executive Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Grants and Training, and Chair of the National Citizen Corps Council. "We firmly believe, as does our President, that everyone has the ability to help out their community in their own special way. The success of this endeavor is totally dependent on the spirit of volunteerism in the state of Missouri – we can’t do this without engaging volunteers in each community," added Henke.

"The primary goal of the Citizen Corps Council is to create and support a network of community-based volunteer efforts, utilizing existing networks and organizations," said Mark Rosenblum, Chairman of the St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council, "to make their communities safer from threats of all types, educate the public on safety, protection and prevention, and to spearhead volunteer and educational efforts." The Council also brings together firefighters, emergency health care providers, law enforcement, and emergency managers with volunteer resources. "This organized network allows professional first responders to focus on saving lives during an emergency, and empowers the Citizen Corps volunteers to quickly mobilize and focus on tasks such as staffing shelters for disaster victims, traffic control or debris removal," added Rosenblum.

The St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council coordinates the efforts of programs such as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Fire Corps, Medical Reserve Corps, Neighborhood Watch, and Volunteers in Police Service, as well as groups such as the American Red Cross, American Legion, Civil Air Patrol, Department of Education, National Fire Protection Association, Points of Light Foundation and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, just to name a few.

Since the creation of Citizen Corps in January 2002, DHS has worked in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the fire service community to develop programs that provide an integrated approach to citizen participation.

• There are over 2,000 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs across the country that offer a minimum of 20 hours of hand-on instruction for citizens in emergency preparedness, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and basic search and rescue. CERT helps train citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. The program focuses on preparing communities to be able to respond to acts of terrorism or other disasters that breach the security and safety of their citizens. The best defense is a strongly interconnected community that is able to handle a disaster or an act of terrorism. Your local community is in the best position to determine appropriate strategies for integrating service and volunteering into homeland security efforts. There are several CERT programs in the St. Charles County area: Cottleville, Dardenne Prairie, Lake Saint Louis, St. Charles City, St. Charles County, St. Peters/Central County, Weldon Spring, and Wentzville, as well as a St. Charles County Teen CERT program.

• The HHS Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program has more than 350 units around the country that engage citizen volunteer physicians, nurses, pharmacists and others with an interest in a broad range of skills in medicine, public health and other support fields. MRC coordinates the skills of practicing and retired physicians, nurses and other health professionals as well as other citizens interested in health issues, who are eager to volunteer to address their community's ongoing public health needs and to help their community during large-scale emergency situations.

• One of the oldest and best-known crime prevention concepts in America, the National Neighborhood Watch Program, has registered over 14,000 Watch Programs, many with a revitalized mission to include neighborhood emergency preparedness. In 2002, the Neighborhood Watch Program launched USAonWatch, a program that expands beyond traditional crime prevention and provides resources, education, and tools to neighborhoods on disaster preparedness, emergency response, and terrorism awareness.

• Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) has more than 1,300 registered programs participating in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. VIPS provides support and resources for agencies interested in developing or enhancing a volunteer program for citizens who wish to volunteer their time and skills with a law enforcement agency. The program's ultimate goal is to improve the capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers.

• Fire Corps, started in December 2004, has nearly 400 registered programs. Fire Corps brings citizens into local fire and emergency service departments to assist in non-operational roles, allowing firefighters and emergency medical responders to focus on critical, life-threatening situations. Through the use of citizen advocates, Fire Corps increases the capacity of volunteer, combination and career fire/EMS departments and creates a vital link between the fire and emergency services and citizens who want to make a difference in their community.

To learn more about the Citizen Corps and volunteer opportunities in St. Charles County, contact the Division of Emergency Management at (636) 949-3023 or the Red Cross at (636) 397-1074.

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