By Staff Reports
(Maui)– Hurricane season brings a unique awareness to the Islands of Hawai`i. Dry brush and high winds are currently creating fire hazards around Maui County. Home fires, wild fires, flash floods, flu epidemics – disasters are unexpected and disrupt lives. Preparation for the unexpected helps people take a level of control over their own safety, reduces anxiety, and provides the possibility of resuming a normal life more quickly in the aftermath of disaster.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training educates people about hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. When disasters happen, CERT members give critical support to professional first responders by providing immediate assistance to victims at a disaster site.
CERT training is open to people of all abilities, ages 18 and up, no previous experience needed. Ages 14-17 may attend with a parent or legal guardian.
CERT Training is free to Maui residents. A six-day, 30-hour program, consisting of classroom instruction and field exercises, CERT is sponsored by the Maui County Civil Defense Agency and taught by Maui Fire Department instructors.
The Upcountry classes are being held at the Jesus Is Alive Church in Pukalani at the following dates and times:
7/16 Monday 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
7/19 Thursday 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
7/21 Saturday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
7/23 Monday 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
7/26 Thursday 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.
7/28 Saturday 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
To register, please contact Charnan Carroll (Civil Defense Staff Specialist & CERT Program Manager) at 270-7285 or email cert@mauicounty.gov .