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2. EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS WORK How did I get to FEMA? First, in 2003, Sue Gehrz sent out a flyer asking for people to contact her if interested in becoming CERT certified. Out of curiosity, I went. After becoming CERT certified, and after becoming a CERT instructor, I felt the need to have more emergency training. An opportunity to work for FEMA then came early September. That was perfect. I felt the need to be proactive in following the work that Falcon Heights started. I needed to know more about community preparedness. ~ THIRD EXAMPLE: IVAN the Terrible What I saw working for FEMA, were several coastal communities with no community organization other than police and fire. FEMA was there because the destruction covered a number of counties and states as you know. But I never saw a local CERT person. The community had been standing for 35 years without a hurricane affecting them. They survived FREDERICK 25 years ago - so "What's the problem?" they said. Then IVAN struck with its fury of 120-155 miles winds, 55-foot waves with 12 feet of shore surge. It destroyed homes, hotels, beaches - anything in its path. We had one person after another ask "What can FEMA do for me?" People didn't know whom to contact or what to ask for. CONCLUSION So my conclusion is: It is dangerous to be complacent and unable to help anyone. So far we are at 0.09% or 1/111 of Falcon Heights population (5572/50) or 1/24 single family households (1199/50). That does not include any businesses along Snelling, Larpenteur or Hamlline. At that rate, we can barely help ourselves, let alone anyone else. We need to continue the CERT program in the Falcon Heights area. We need to increase the percentages of CERT members, so we can • adequately service people.