CERT of Allen County demonstrates 72-Hour Preparedness Challenge

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) of Allen County will conduct a 72-Hour Disaster Preparedness Challenge as part of September's National Preparedness Month.  Three public safety individuals will demonstrate disaster supply kits by "camping" outside of Fort Wayne Fire Department (FWFD) Station 10, 3122 North Anthony Boulevard to bring awareness to disaster preparedness.  The 72 hours will begin at 8 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 23 and run to 8 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 26. There will be a large clock onsite which will show the time remaining as part of the challenge.

The three participants will demonstrate three different levels of preparedness.  They all will use their Basic Emergency Supply Kits they have assembled as recommended by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the WWW.Ready.Gov website.  The differences will be that they will each have a different supply of food to show the different ways people can prepare before a disaster strikes. 

Steve Ealing, CERT Trainer and Three Rivers Ambulance Authority Paramedic, will be using MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).  Officer Victor Hopkins, CERT Trainer and an Officer with the Allen County Police Department, will have a collection of foods he put together shopping in local stores.  FWFD Firefighter Brian Vanderbosch, representing those who have not had CERT Training, will use a completely prepared kit that can be purchased which contains the foods, tools and other supplies recommended for an individual for 72-hours.

CERT is a program that trains individuals on how to provide initial assistance during an emergency response situation, i.e., tornado, flood, ice storm, etc., until professional first responders arrive.

Captain Matt Brokaw, FWFD and Allen County CERT Director, said, "Our purpose in demonstrating this is to show everyone the type of supplies they need to have in place in case a disaster hits our area. We are showing them that a lot of these items are things they may already have and the importance of having these items in one location.  Also, if they want to buy pre-packaged materials instead of putting together their own, they can do that as well. In a true disaster, it may be difficult for the public safety officials to get to all of the areas right away and the public needs to be able to be as self-sustaining as possible until help arrives," he added.

"We invite those with questions to stop by Station 10 during the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. during this 72-hour stay and get answers from these participants. Additional information about preparedness is available at the Allen County CERT website, www.fwachomeland.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=50, or by visiting www.Ready.gov, part of the Ready Campaign of the United States Department of Homeland Security."