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.