Region 21 CERT team trains for emergency readiness
CERT, Community Emergency Response Team, trains to respond when emergencies happen. Tuesday night, the scenario was finding a missing person.
By News Channel NebraskaSIDNEY -- A citizen volunteer group constantly trains to be ready for the unexpected, to assist law enforcement and first responders when needed.
The local team practiced a response Tuesday in Sidney. Region 21 Coordinator Ron Leal said the drill focused on finding a missing person.
"We're learning how to do a grid search. A grid search is where we do a straight-line search back and forth. We're looking for different types of clues, as you put it; clues for the scenario. The scenario tonight is a missing person. And they're looking for clues as they're searching through the weeds out here," he said Tuesday.
The exercise was based on the scenario of a missing person. The team is provided with details of the missing person, which can lead to clues found in the area.
"I planted a few clues out there for them. We've got a shoe, which was in the initial report, wearing black shoes, black shoe out there, right at the moment. And then we have a backpack. And then we have a fake, dummy per se that we have at the other end. So that's what they're looking for is, finding that person that is down," he said.
Before and after the exercise, procedure is explained from the importance of a straight-line search to how to respond when something is found.
Thirteen people took part in Tuesday's exercise.
Leal said the program has a 13-year history.
"We started in 2013. With a lot of CERT teams, they ramp up, they go down. COVID kind of took us way down. We're starting to rebuild, and I believe we're at 24 members now," Leal said.
He has a goal of 300 members.
"Anybody that would like to join the Cheyenne County CERT Team give me a call at my office, Regional 21 Emergency Management, 308-249-1310. We're more than happy to have you join the team," Leal said.
CERT, Community Emergency Response Team, is through Regional 21.
The program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live. The Cheyenne County team also supports Kimball, Deuel, Garden and Morrill counties when needed.
CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as:
- Fire safety
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster medical operations
according to FEMA.gov.