Barrow County CERT Turns Five

Over the last five years, Bob Richardson and other members of the (CERT) has trained over 100 citizens and has an active response team of 40 people, a media release from said.

CERT is a national volunteer program that teaches readiness in the event of a disaster.

The program is designed to teach individuals how to prepare and protect their family, assist their neighbors and community in the event of an emergency, the release said.

The CERT participates in community events like Public Safety Day, the Health Awareness Fair, Veteran’s Appreciation Day, Mobile Food Pantry, town festivals and events, the Christmas Parade and the Toy Drive.

They also assist Emergency Services in first aid and helps the Health Department with H1N1 vaccines and blood pressure screenings.

Along with teaching fire safety at local high schools, they also assist the Sheriff’s Department in search and rescue and precinct parking.

Anyone interested in taking the basic CERT training class should contact Mike Wilson at 770-868-0548 or visit the website. The next class starts Sept. 8.