Grants help train Fla. emergency volunteers

By Nicole T. Lesson
Sun-Sentinel
Copyright 2007 Sun-Sentinel Company
All Rights Reserved

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Fort Lauderdale and Deerfield Beach are among the cities receiving state money to continue Community Emergency Response Teams.

Grants, financed through the Department of Homeland Security, were awarded to four cities in Broward County to help train volunteers for CERT.

They learn techniques including treatment of broken bones and search-and-rescue skills so they can assist themselves and others in an emergency situation such as a hurricane, tornado or flood.

Fort Lauderdale got an $11,600 reimbursement grant and Deerfield Beach $10,000. The state received $625,584 for distribution to the cities that applied. It kept 20 percent, or $125,116, for its CERT and Citizen Corps efforts and allocated the rest, $500,468, among the cities, according to Erin L. Hays, State Citizen Corps/CERT coordinator for the Florida Division of Emergency Management.

"We gave out 55 local sub-grants throughout the state. It was the most cities funded in one year, and more people are applying with more groups being created," Hays said.

This year, all sub-grantees were funded at 58 percent of their originally requested amount. This decision was made based on reduced funding levels coming from the federal level, she said.

Out of the other Broward cities, Hallandale Beach received $10,000 and Miramar $11,600.

Since 1993, Fort Lauderdale's CERT program has trained more than 800 people, with more than 500 currently active, according to Erin Mohres, the city's emergency manager. The city will use the grant money for basic and advanced CERT courses.

"We dedicate the funds for the sustainment of classes, for training and cost of supplies," Mohres said.

The basic course runs eight weeks, or participants can opt to take it on two consecutive Saturdays.

In recent years, more people have been signing up, Mohres said. An annual citywide CERT meeting took place May 29.

"Hurricane Wilma [in 2005] got everyone interested, not just new people, but people who trained previously who got a new sense of urgency to update training and gain more education," Mohres said. "We will try to accommodate as many [volunteers] as we can, now that it's hurricane season."

The Deerfield Beach CERT program has trained more than 700 people since 1998, with about 150 still active. The $10,000 grant will go toward CERT training and equipment, said Brett Dunckel, fire inspector with Deerfield Beach Fire-Rescue who oversees the program.

"When a storm occurs, we are inundated with emergency calls and we are only so many and may not be able to get to every emergency," he said.

That's where CERT helps. Team members assist in any way they can, from using first aid to clearing a pathway of downed trees or just bringing ice to a neighbor, he said.

"CERT members that live in that area are ready to respond and go door-to-door," he said. "And if one neighbor needs emergency care, they can help until we arrive to give advanced care."