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Homeland security seeks to assemble first-responder network
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Related Topics: Montgomery County
Montgomery County (Map, News) - In a large-scale emergency, your next-door-neighbor — not a traditional emergency rescuer — could be the first responder recommending evacuation or administering CPR to the injured.
It’s part of a growing movement by Montgomery County’s Department of Homeland Security to recruit a fleet of civilian front-line assistants.
Under a program called Community Emergency Responder Training, the county is busily training volunteers in the community to play an integral part in providing aid during natural disasters, terrorist attacks and other emergency scenarios.
Eventually, the hope is that 100 to 150 safety advocates will be positioned in each of the county’s six major geographic territories, ready to help at a moment’s notice.
“The whole premise is to have first responders embedded in the community. That way, we’ll have people on site if by chance public safety cannot get right in there,” said Battalion Chief Brian Geraci, a liaison between the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Department and Homeland Security. “[In an emergency], you need a lot of manpower. And this frees up police and fire to do public safety and take care of the 911 calls.”
Besides notifying residents to get out of their homes and away from danger, the volunteers also are trained to fight small fires, assess and prioritize patients, do light search and rescue, and have a basic awareness of hazardous materials.
Geraci said during the three-week training sessions, participants receive a start-up kit complete with a hard hat, vests, goggles, a utility shut-off tool and work gloves. They’re also added to a text messaging alert line that will notify them when their help is needed. And volunteers are asked to return for monthly follow-up training as well as to keep adding to their supply kits and to stay involved in their communities.
“They basically serve as our goodwill ambassadors,” the battalion chief said.
The CERT program started in Los Angeles 20 years ago so that emergency personnel could ready average citizens to assist after earthquakes.
Geraci said after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, local governments around the country looked to programs in which regular people could help.
Montgomery County got on board two and a half years ago. So far, close to 100 county residents have become CERT-certified.
Geraci’s department wants to raise that number considerably, particularly in the currently underrepresented east-county and down-county areas.
dlevitz@examiner.com
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Examiner Reader said:
You reporters need to stop making this story bigger then what the story really is and put real information not false information to get the members of travelers program scared.This is the best program I have ever spent my money and I thank CLEAR for making my travel less of a headache.
6 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Not all services within DoD are utilizing. Costs implemented to private companies/contractors will in turn cost the government come time for contract renewals. System not HSPD-12 compliant and company not liable for misinformation given from background checks.
1 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
When and where did the competition for this acquisition occur? Why is DHS implementing a solution that is not compliant with HDPD-12 requirements?
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
I am relieved to know that Anne Arundel County is safe from terrorist attacks. Maybe, just maybe, the focus should be on local crime and drug interdiction.
1 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The 20% retained by the State must be used for the direct benefit of the urban area. Only 3% can be used for management and adminsitration.
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Examiner Reader said:
Congress does everything under the sun to try to sabatoge our security, then sends him a bill asking for security? Send in the clowns! Forget it. They're already here!!!!
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Examiner Reader said:
It's the same bill.
169 agree | 188 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
There's $3 billion worth in the Homeland Security Spending bill currently on its way to the House. It includes fence funding, border agent money and a bunch of other good stuff. The amendment containing the border money passed 89-1. Bush has said he will veto the bill - claiming "irresponsible spending" - I guess he would know - but most on the hill think that both houses have enough votes to override. Let's freakin' hope so!
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Me said:
When are they going to do something about the Mexican border? I mean protecting the ports, etc. is a joke!
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