FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 10, 2003

Shoreline Fire and Police Departments to Offer Citizen Disaster Preparedness Classes

The Shoreline Fire Department, with assistance from the Shoreline Police Department, will offer an 8-week CERT class beginning Thursday, May 8 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

CERT, or Community Emergency Response Teams, is a way for neighborhoods, businesses, schools and other organizations to be prepared for a major disaster – and to find ways to cope during the first few days when first responders will be overwhelmed and unable to meet the demand for services. The classes will be held on consecutive Thursday evenings through June 19, with an additional class on Saturday, June 21.

For several years now, The City of Shoreline and the Shoreline Fire Department have been urging residents to be prepared for at least 72 hours without police, fire, or emergency medical assistance in the event of a major natural disaster. Now, with increased focus on Homeland Security, citizens should be more aware than ever about protecting themselves and their families during the first days of a crisis.

CERT classes help citizens learn how to rely on each other during emergencies, whether it is a major windstorm, an earthquake or an act of bioterrorism. This, in turn, helps police and firefighters do their difficult jobs when disaster strikes.

The CERT class, to be held at Fire Department Headquarters, 17525 Aurora Avenue North, will be offered to the general public in Shoreline. It will be taught by Shoreline firefighters and police officers. Class content includes information and hands-on experiences in basic fire suppression, triage and disaster first aid, light search and rescue, psychological effects of disasters, and personal, family and neighborhood preparedness.

Students must be willing to attend all eight sessions, and to pay a $25.00 fee for approved safety equipment. Hands-on instruction will be conducted at the Shoreline Fire Department Training Center and will include light lifting, search and rescue, use of a fire extinguisher, basic medical treatment, and a session on CERT and terrorism.

The CERT website, accessed through www.fema.gov or www.ready.gov contains complete descriptions of CERT and how it can help communities, businesses, and schools prepare for disasters. FEMA’s new and update citizen emergency preparedness manual, “Are You Ready?” is available by calling 1-800-480-2520 and asking for publication H-34.

If you would like to register, or have further question about Shoreline CERT classes, please call Shoreline Fire’s Community Education Division at 206-533-6564.

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