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43 government and private officials end CERT training
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Posted on Apr 12 2006
Forty-three officers from government and private agencies finished the first community-based Community Emergency Response Team in the CNMI.
Participants received certificates of completion from the three-day training that ended yesterday afternoon at the Pacific Islands Club.
Joseph A. Flores, Group 4 Securicor assistant general manager for Guam and CNMI, facilitated the three-day seminar and led the distribution of certificates.
Flores said the training intended to develop and prepare the community when disaster or terrorism strikes in the CNMI. Flores tackled issues on disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operation, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization, disaster psychology, and terrorism.
The instructor said he was impressed with the CNMI participants, adding that in his seven years of CERT training, this was his first time to have a pool of participants that are active and participative.
Sponsored by the CNMI Homeland Security Office, the training also included the mayors of the three islands in the CNMI. Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, who gave brief remarks during the first day of the training, said the CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills.
“Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event,” Tudela said.
He said that everyone involved in the training could take a more active role in preparing their own communities for disasters.
Event coordinator Patricio F. Tudela said the organizing committee was very happy with the turnout.
CNMI Homeland Security special assistant Patrick Tenorio also oversaw the training for three days.
