03/09/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Beginning in April and September of 2008, the first two training sessions for the Lino Lakes Community Emergency Response Team took place. CERT was formed to train citizens for disaster response situations. A ten member CERT board comprised of citizens and members of the Lino Lakes Police Department and Centennial Fire District coordinate and oversee the program. Sub - committees of the board handle financial, equipment and training needs. Lino Lakes, MN •- . COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM During 2008, thirty -nine members went through an eight -week training program on Tuesday nights from 7:00- 9:30pm. The training sessions included: disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, CERT organization, disaster psychology, and terrorism and CERT. The last week of class the members participated in a final scenario at the Lino Lakes Senior Center where they used all the skills they learned to rescue role - players during a simulated disaster situation. The members then were treated to cake and coffee during a CERT graduation ceremony to celebrate their accomplishments and commitment to the Lino Lakes community. Once the first CERT class graduated, monthly trainings were set up to keep the members active and engaged in the program. The first monthly event we hosted was a CPR certification course which was taught by an instructor from the Centennial Fire District. The next ongoing training involved a mass search and rescue effort to locate a lost child. CERT members were able to work with Lino Lakes Police and Reserve Officers, Police Explorers and the Centennial Fire department in a unified command setting similar to the environment if an actual disaster occurred. During the second CERT training sessions, the members from the first class helped with the trainings as role players. Through role - playing, they were able to bring their own experiences to the new members and help them through the training. In December, we brought both groups together by hosting an appreciation dinner in the community room and began planning for 2009 CERT monthly training. We have scheduled our third CERT training session for September, 2009. In -house volunteers— The Lino Lakes Police Department would not run as efficiently as it does without the help of these dedicated citizens. These volunteers work in several areas within the department and help with a variety of tasks that would otherwise not be completed in a timely manner. Volunteers help with filing, data entry, evidence logging, transcription, and many other duties. In -house volunteers have logged over 839 hours in 2008 at an estimated savings to the department of $16,369. 19