Are you prepared for a disaster?

If you don’t think so, the East Pierce Intercoalition in Emergency Management is hosting a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class in Wilkeson this March to teach locals how they can respond to an crisis event.

“We know that, in the event of a large natural/human-caused disaster, that all of our resources are gong to be stretched thin,” said Buckley Fire Department Chief Eric Skogen; his department is a member of the Intercoalition. “And in areas like Buckley, Wilkeson, Carbonado, we know that receiving outside help is not going to happen quickly.”

So it’s necessary, he continued, for rural residents to know how to be resilient and prepared to help themselves and even other first responders during such an emergency.

This is the first CERT program to be organized in the Wilkeson area, and Skogen hopes that more will be hosted in Carbonado and Buckley in the near future as well.

Skogen said that Wilkeson was picked specifically for this first program, as there is only one road in and out of the community via state Route 165, which could make it difficult for aid to reach the town if highway access was cut.

CERT programs are a month long, and cover topics and training about disaster preparedness and medical operations, psychology, fire safety and utility controls, life search and rescue, terrorism — all of which culminated in a final exam and disaster simulation.

Passing the training and receiving CERT diploma also provides students the change to become a CERT Team volunteer to aid their community during a disaster, from administrative roles to on-the-ground activation.

“We have seen growth with program participants in many ways,” said Louise Darcy, CERT Program Manager. “We have had volunteers assist with the creation of a mobile medical first aid kit, which has been available at planned community events such as parades and festivals. Others have taken additional training opportunities and become CERT instructors.”

Classes for this program are every Tuesday and Wednesday in March, from 6 to 9 p.m. Students must attend every class, or schedule a make-up class with instructors. Classes are held at the Wilkeson Fire Station (501 Church Street).

This is a free program, but space is limited. Register at cityofpuyallup.org/cert to download an online application. Applications are also available in the lobbies of City/Town Halls in Buckley, Carbonado, Puyallup, and Wilkeson.