Local EMA agencies partner to bring emergency preparedness training to Northeast TN

The Washington County and Johnson City Emergency Management Agency has partnered with the seven other EMA agencies across TN's District 1 to launch free Community Emergency Response Team courses. Dan Sowers, manager disaster volunteer services with Volunteer Tennessee, serves as the state's CERT coordinator. Sowers said there are 45 programs across the state. "[The program] teaches you what to do in the event of a disaster," he said. "To take care of yourself, your family, your next-door neighbors in the event of a disaster." The 12-to-16-hour program offered both in-person and through hybrid online formats is available to all member of the eight counties in the district including Carter, Greene, Hancock, Hawkins, Johnson, Sullivan, Unicoi and Washington Counties. The CERT program started in 1985 at the Los Angeles City Fire Department after communities were devastated because of the earthquakes in Mexico City. "More volunteers were killed than people were actually killed in that earthquake," Sowers said. "It was a big wake-up call for the community to say, 'what can we do to train the public in emergency preparedness and disaster response?'" The program was developed for communities to learn basic skills in the event of a disaster such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. The CERT program is implemented across all 50 states. Sowers said more than a million people have gone through the CERT training across the nation. People who have taken the training course leave feeling empowered, he said. "They really feel that they have an opportunity now to take care of themselves and their family members and their neighbors," Sowers said. Director of WCEMA Evan Clayburn said the agency implemented this program shortly before Hurricane Helene and has since partnered with local agencies, fire departments and other organizations to expand emergency preparedness training across the district. "From the time folks initiate 911 to the time our first responders arrive, we teach them a skill set that makes people more resilient," he said. Clayburn added the agencies plan to partner with local community leaders to establish a plan for if, and when, an emergency disaster occurs. "It makes sense for us to partner with those community leaders or those community partners that are strong with it [and] train them in the community resilience, so that way when something happens, they're able to do a lot," he said. Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby said after Hurricane Helene, the region has experienced a need for more resources and teamwork when it comes to being prepared for an emergency. Additionally, during Helene she said one of the things officials realized early on is they didn't have enough volunteers. "I think this is an opportunity to promote and educate how important it is and to really make the community feel like it's something that they can be proud of if they could be engaged and step up with us when something happens alongside our first responders and our law enforcement and our EMA directors," she said. Woodby said she plans to take some of the courses herself to be able to stay engaged with her community and be a contact point in the case of a disaster. Through the CERT training, individuals will learn life-saving tactics that can make a difference and ultimately save lives before a first responder is able to arrive. To register for the CERT training or to become a sponsor, reach out to the WCEMA CERT Coordinator Phil Bentley at 423-220-9219 or at pbentley@washingtoncountytn.org. Individuals can also learn more about the training course at the Volunteer Tennessee website at tn.gov/volunteer-tennessee/our-initiatives/disaster-services/cert---community-emergency-response-team.html.