Page 10 The INDEPENDENT, September 1, 2005 What is CERT and why is it needed here? Each year, some communi- ties are rocked by severe weather, such as floods, winter storms, or by “man made” dis- asters. The damage caused by such disasters affect every- one,severely restrict and over- whelm emergency response resources, communications, transportation and utilities, leaving individuals and neigh- borhoods cut off from outside emergency support. Because of Vernonia’s expe- rience during the devastating flood of 1996, emergency re- sponse has continued to be a local consideration. To develop a more comprehensive ap- proach to such a situation the Community Emergency Re- sponse Team (CERT) Program was implemented. So what does CERT do? The program educates peo- ple about disaster prepared- ness for hazards that may im- pact their area, and trains them in basic disaster re- sponse skills such as fire safe- ty, light search and rescue, team organization, and disas- ter medical operations. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give criti- cal support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spon- taneous volunteers at a disas- ter site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. CERT members also are en- couraged to support emer- gency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness proj- ects in their community. CERT are trained to take care of themselves, then help others in their communities for the first three days following a disaster. This time period is when debris-clogged or dam- aged roads, disrupted commu- nications, or high volume of L calls may prevent access by emergency response person- nel. The purpose of CERT training is to provide citizens with the basic skills required to handle virtually all their own needs, then to be able to re- spond to their communities’ needs in the aftermath of a dis- aster Initially, CERT programs were developed to assist com- munities in taking care of them- selves in the aftermath of a ma- jor disaster when first respon- ders are overwhelmed or un- able to respond because of communication or transporta- tion difficulties. As the CERT concept has taken hold across the country, however, CERTs have become much more than originally envisioned. CERTs have proven themselves to be an active and vital part of their communities’ preparedness and response capability. For example, CERTs have been used to: • Distribute and/or install smoke alarms and batteries to the elderly and disabled. • Assist with evacuations and traffic control. • Promote community awareness of potential hazards and preparedness measures. • Supplement staffing at spe- cial events. • Act as victims in training exercises. CERTs are an investment of local government’s time and re- sources. To capitalize on this investment, program sponsors can view CERT members as a volunteer resource that can as- sist with public safety activities. Such an approach will actively involve members in serving their communities beyond dis- aster response and add value to the CERT program. Vernonia CERT was created to supplement the assistance given by local emergency re- sponse agencies. Vernonia CERT is not a competing e o n et t i’ s P i z z a & G r il l Back to School Special for Parents Buy 1 Breakfast get 2nd* 1/2 price * Equal or lesser value 721 Madison Ave., Vernonia • 503-429-5018 agency, but a support organiza- tion with its own identity and in- dependence. Vernonia CERT is the local chapter of the Citizen Corp’s CERT program. For more detail about the organization, see the Emergency Management Insti- tute’s website <http://training. fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT/>. Vernonia CERT is seeking people who wish to take CERT training. For more information about CERT training, contact any of the following: Chief Matt Workman, Vernon- ia Police Dept., 503-429-7335, <chief@vernonia-or.gov>; Chief Paul Epler, Vernonia Rural Fire District, 503-429-8252, <paul _epler@hotmail. com>; Mike Orth, Training Coordinator, Ver- nonia CERT, 503-429-3018, <VernoniaCert@gmail. com>. Vernonia Society and “Old Grads” enjoy the annual picnic held each year in August. See page 7 for more information. Public comment on fish status invited The results of the first statewide assessment of native fish populations in 10 years are now available for public com- ment, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife announced today. The Oregon Native Fish Status Report will be used to help fish and wildlife managers identify priorities for developing conservation plans for at-risk native fish populations through- out the state. The draft report, which is available for a 60-day public re- view on ODFW’s Web site, identifies and prioritizes areas where added protections may be necessary to conserve fish populations, noted Kevin Goodson, ODFW conservation planning coordinator. “ODFW staff and other re- searchers began conducting the assessments in January 2004,” said Goodson. “Biolo- gists surveyed 69 different species management units, us- ing the new Native Fish Con- servation Policy criteria. This is the first time the new criteria have been used, and this pro- vides an important consistent, science-based approach for evaluating where and how to prioritize resources to help re- store and maintain healthy na- tive fish populations throughout Oregon.” The assessment provides a general overview of the recent health of the fish populations studied, noted Goodson, and is not intended to provide detailed information. “This review is similar to a 50,000-foot fly-over that is in- tended to catch the urgent problems and provide a snap- shot of how the fish are doing,” said Goodson. “It sets the stage for the detailed work that will need to follow.” Biologists assessed the sta- tus of all of the salmon and steelhead and most of the trout populations in the state, as well as sturgeon, some lamprey, and a few dace and chub species listed under the Endan- gered Species Act. The as- sessment methods used in the report will be reviewed by the Independent Multi-disciplinary Science Team, the science ad- visory committee for the Ore- gon Plan for Salmon and Wa- tersheds. Of the 69 groups of fish pop- ulations assessed, called Species Management Units (SMUs), nine SMUs were de- termined to be extinct, 34 were assessed as “at risk,” 14 were classified as “potentially at risk,” and 12 were assessed as “not at risk.” The term “risk” refers to whether the SMU can be sustained until a conserva- tion plan is developed and im- plemented. The level of risk will determine the priority in which monitoring strategies and con- servation plans are developed. The study was funded through a grant from the Ore- gon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). ODFW staff were assisted in the assess- ments by S.P. Cramer and As- sociates, a fisheries consulting firm. The last such assessment was conducted in 1995. The 2005 report can be found on- line at <http://www.dfw.state.o r.us/fish/ONFSR/index.asp>. Public comments on the draft report will be accepted through Oct. 24. Comments should be sent to <kevin.w.g oodson@state.or.us> or mailed to him at 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97303-4924. A CD of the report can be re- quested from Casaria Tuttle at <casaria.r.tuttle@state.or.us> or 503-947-6230. Air Show will honor all those who serve The Air Show at Hillsboro Airport will be September 9 -11 this year. The Sunday Airshow will honor heroes; all Military, Police, Fire and EMS active personnel and veterans will only need proper I.D. for their area of service to get free ad- mission into the General Ad- mission area. Sunday will fea- ture a special parade honoring our country’s heroes, recogniz- ing our veterans or war and re- membering our fallen soldiers and their families. For complete information, go to <www.oregonairshow.c om>.