Township Wants to Train you for the Worst

Think about this: If a disaster were to happen in your neighborhood, what would you do?

That's a question Mel Shiels, team leader with Applewood CERT, would like more people to not only ask, but to answer.

And she can fill in the blanks.

Shiels is seeking new members to join the , which trains citizens to handle disasters in their communities until emergency personnel arrives.

"It's neighbors taking care of neighbors," said Shiels, who has lived in Upper Macungie Township since 1999. "Individuals get trained in emergency preparedness and they take care of themselves."

"CERT" stands for Community Emergency Response Team – focuses on four aspects: Get a kit, have a plan, stay informed and get involved.

Shiels stresses that it's important for people to get 72 hours worth of supplies such as food, water and medical essentials for a kit that they should either buy or make.

They should also have a plan where their families find a place to reunite after a disaster in case they are separated and keep informed by listening to the radio or news reports.

The main thing, though, is getting residents ready for emergencies.
"CERT is like an insurance policy," Shiels said. "You hope that you never have to use it but you're happy that you have it."

Since 2008, 38 residents have joined CERT.

Following a disaster, these citizen-responders use their training as part of a neighborhood team to help others when professional responders are overwhelmed or not immediately available.  

The basic CERT training program is a 16-hour course.

Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, team organization, and a module on terrorism to educate CERT members about BNICE agents: Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical, and Explosive.

The training concludes with a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills they learned throughout the course. Lehigh County Emergency Management Agency offers free CERT trainings to develop our community’s ability to respond to an emergency situation.

CERT started in Los Angeles in 1985, helping the city's fire department train people in the wake of earthquakes.

In the wake of Hurricane Irene, Shiels believes that CERTs can really benefit communities.

"I'd like to believe that people take these things more seriously," she said. "We need to keep repeating the message that people need to be prepared."

Two CERT training sessions have been scheduled: Saturday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the

For more information, contact Shiels at 610-391-8044