EAST LONGMEADOW – A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is being created in East Longmeadow in an effort to educate program volunteers of disaster preparedness for hazards that could impact the area.

The chairman of the CERT committee, Fire Chief Paul Morrissette, said that in the past the town has had a CERT program, but since the change in town government, there’s been confusion.

“We feel the program allows us to educate volunteers about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact our area and trains them in basic disaster skills.  Having volunteers trained and organized will assist town agencies during disaster situations,” Morrissette said.

The town is hoping to have eight to 10 volunteers by the middle of October for the CERT program.  Morrissette added that in the future, this number may grow.

“Volunteers will be expected to attend one two to three hour training per month.  In the event of a disaster, volunteers can be expected to assist shelter operations and or assist the regional Medical Reserve Corp (MRC),” Morrissette said.

East Longmeadow’s CERT program would train and prepare volunteers to assist with National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) and the Incident Command System (ICS), regional disaster potential, fire safety, first aid and CPR, shelter operation and staffing and assistance to regional MRC.

A press release on the search for volunteers sates that, “CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and an organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations.”

If a resident is interested in the CERT program or becoming a volunteer for the group, send a letter of interest to Town Manager Denise Menard at 60 Center Square, East Longmeadow MA 01028 or to her email address TownManager@eastlongmeadowma.gov.