The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency is inviting the public to a two-day Community Emergency Response Team training course scheduled for the end of September in Keaau.
CERT is a nationwide program from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for citizens who want to properly prepare for and respond to emergencies.
The in-depth training is meant to empower participants and their communities to respond to all hazards or disasters in their area.
“If you look at the general public, about 1% of people are emergency responders, like medical professionals, police, firefighters and so on,” said Bill Hanson, administrative officer for Civil Defense. “This gives the other 99% the opportunity to learn how to mitigate, prevent and protect — more than just responding and recovering.”
Although this comes shortly after the wildfires devastated Lahaina, the training was scheduled at the beginning of the year. Civil Defense has hosted two training sessions in Hilo and Waimea and most likely will have one more after this training in Keaau.
Over 1,200 people have gone through the CERT program, and there are more than 20 CERT teams in the county, according to Hanson.
“During training, we teach people how to respond to emergencies, and after getting through that, we take it a step further,” Hanson said. “Teaching preparedness and getting people thinking about emergencies prior to when they happen is also very important.”
CERT training is shaped by the Project 360 Ohana Emergency Plan, which is a guide that helps people prepare for the many weather disasters that can happen on Hawaii Island.
“One of the most important things attached to CERT training is figuring out a plan when there are blue skies,” Hanson said. “There are ways to prepare for emergencies, and what we’re trying to do is empower residents, so they can be in control of situations as best as possible.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, CERT training used to be four Saturdays in a row with eight hours of theory and practical training per session. After learning about specific hazards and how to respond to them, attendees would put their knowledge to the test with hands-on training.
Now, the theory part of CERT training is conducted through about 16-hours of online lessons that are tracked by Civil Defense. Hawaii County partnered with the University of Utah to utilize their nine units of CERT.
The basic training will go over subjects like understanding hazards, risks and threats, evacuation protocol, warning and notification, how to respond to different emergencies, and understanding the science behind these emergencies.
After completing the online training, attendees will test their knowledge with practical training from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.
Some of the things covered will include first aid, using a spine board, cribbing, bleeding control and more.
The online training must be completed by Sept. 30. There are skill sets that people must be able to identify and perform to satisfy the course.
“If someone wants to do program, it is a lot of work, but they will feel more calm and comfortable when responding to emergencies themselves or as a family,” Hanson said. “When a person takes the training, they can do it and be done, or they can join a CERT team on the island. If there isn’t one in their area, we can put together people in same area and develop the team.”
CERT teams most recently helped with damage assessment after the fires in Kohala. They also managed the information center and escorted people through the lava damage after the 2018 Kilauea eruption.
CERT teams are integrated into Civil Defense operations and will be notified if they can assist with something.
Those interested in CERT training must be 18 years and older, or 17 years if there is a parent or guardian also attending.
For those who have completed the online portion, the in-person CERT training course is free and will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Keaau Community Center.
The online course will be sent to participants after they register. Those interested must send their name and phone number to hawaiicert@gmail.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
