City of Alexandria VA Seal Happy New Year to all of you!  Here is Alexandria\’s January-February CERT newsletter, featuring articles on helping neighbors, searching for missing persons, and tips for home recovery after a disaster. Marjorie WindelbergAlexandria CERT CoordinatorUntil Help Arrives Lead

CERT Holiday Logo Happy New Year! As year two of the pandemic ends, and year three begins, I want to thank each of you for your dedication to each other and our program under trying circumstances. We may soon need to answer the call again as CERT members setting an example of preparedness and service to our community. Trends indicate the Omicron variant will disrupt our lives this winter, so NOW is the time to make sure we have sufficient supplies to care for our families and assist our neighbors as needed. Please make sure you have the recommended shots, the correct PPE, and review how to use it correctly. For 2022, we plan to offer the long awaited Emergency Medical Responder course to our membership in the first quarter (details soon on eligibility and registration), we will be putting CERT 700 in service very soon, and we will offer CPR classes again when the conditions permit in-person training. We also plan to offer a CERT Basic class later this spring. Please watch this website for updates. On behalf of the St. James family- Jennifer, Natasha, Megan, Allison, and Cooper the Dog… I wish you a happy and healthy 2022! Greg Cooper the Dog

There are 25 million people in America who have limited English proficiency and need critical preparedness resources in a language they understand. This same group of people may want an opportunity to volunteer with groups to help build their personal resilience and support their community. One way to attract volunteers representing the local community\’s diversity is by offering your resources in multiple languages. You can start informing more community members about the benefit of CERT using the CERT fact sheet, now available in six languages, including English, Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. The multi-language fact sheet can help you reach more community segments and reduce barriers for ethnic and non-English speaking groups, who may not have known about CERT. You can use this fact sheet as a marketing tool and gain their interest in CERT. Your CERT resources and volunteer opportunities must be accessible to all community members. When you attract a diverse set of CERT volunteers, you can strengthen your CERT, and most of all, impact your community. Order the CERT fact sheet today. 9117.FEMA_.ICPD_.Factsheet.CERT_.508.2020.03.03Download

As we move into the fall MC CERT has been busy as ever. Congrats to our CERT Basic graduates who patiently waited for many months of lockdowns etc. before we were able to offer an in-person practicum this July. Welcome all! We are also once again offering in person CPR refresher training for current CERT members and plan to begin Friends and Family classes soon. Watch this space. The next CERT basic class will begin in October and registration information will be available here on this website. Our Go Team is back in action this summer with their first deployment at the Musica Viva concert in the Kentlands at the end of July and more deployments planned. Watch your CERVIS emails for information. A big thanks to the Picnic planning group for making a fast switch of venues when it became necessary and putting together a very successful and fun outing on August 7. The food was delicious! (Cooper St. James even said so- WOOF!) Our CERT Outreach Team is back in action at the county fair this month under the leadership of Kevin Barth, and more events are planned this fall. September is Preparedness Month, and to that end we offer two newsletters here: one from FEMA and another from the National CERT Association with useful tips and information. FEMA National-Preparedness-Month-September-2021-ToolkitDownload NCA-Newsletter-001-Fall-2021Download Lastly, COVID-19 is still a real and active threat. Please follow the local and state guidelines, and stay safe! Greg Montgomery CERT Picnic with Cooper CERT Go Team at Musica Viva

Dear CERT Member: Lots of news and info to cover as we roll into summer: First, let me thank our CERT volunteers at the Germantown mass vaccination site, and the MobileMed clinics. You truly have a made a difference for hundreds of people in our county. Brett Wernick and Jennifer St. James working a Mobile Med Vaccination Clinic As Montgomery County moves closer to re-opening, we can now announce in-person CERT events and training will be resuming. CERT Practicum- There will be CERT practicum for those students who completed CERT Basic online in 2020/21. The practicum takes place over two days on July 10 and 17 at the PSHQ. Full details have been sent to students and will be on the training page as well.  ASHI CPR Recertification- Four CPR recertification classes are scheduled to begin July 24, and run through September 11 with details being sent via CERVIS and posted on the CPR section of this website. Members who have taken ASHI CPR through CERT and are members in good standing will be eligible to register for the classes. Work continues designing graphics and outfitting CERT 700. Chief Kelley is working with the PSTA to develop the driver training program and our leadership team is finalizing the policies and procedure for the operation of the apparatus. MC CERT was well represented at the memorial service for retired Division Chief Alan Hinde. CERTCON 2021- The 10th annual CERT CON was dedicated to the memory of Chief Hinde. Jennifer St. James took the time to put together a lovely look back at the ten years of CERT CON. Please take look. Finally, we are ready for some fun and relaxation this summer! Save the date for Saturday, August 7, 2021 for the annual Montgomery CERT picnic. This year, we are fortunate to have partnered with Madison Fields farm up in Dickerson for our event https://madisonfields.org/. Bring the family! This will be a potluck- where folks will sign up to bring a dish to pass, This farm location has a very peaceful and beautiful setting, with a full wrap around porch for sitting, barbecue grills, and a chance to hang out with the goats, sheep, horses, a place for games (corn hole and others) and a fishing pond! Stay tuned on how to sign up for the event in CERVIS. Billy the goat and his friends will see you there! Billy the Goat Have a safe and happy 4th of July. Greg St. JamesCERT Program ManagerMontgomery County Fire and RescuePSHQ 2nd Floor100 Edison Park DriveGaithersburg, MD 20878240-777-2407greg.st.james@montgomerycountymd.gov