HELOTES, Texas – For the first time in history, the city of Helotes now has a Community Emergency Response Team after the Helotes police dispatch worked with Bexar County to hold a CERT training program.
Fast Facts:
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Thirty community members made up of all age groups participated in the five-day program.
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Participants completed 22 hours of education on how to be prepared for various disasters.
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Training took place in a classroom setting and in a live simulation setting.
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The simulation consisted of missing person search techniques, basic medical treatment and search and rescue efforts, among other techniques.
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Residents who completed the course graduated with an official CERT certificate from FEMA.
“This has been a real eye opener. It has taught me stuff that I need to do at the house to make sure my house it secure,” said Ryan Elkins, a participant.
“If a disaster arises, whether it is a natural disaster or something, our first responders need assistance. Helotes is really happy to know that we have a CERT team to call upon now," said Andrea Wazir, a public relations specialist for the department.