Volunteers complete emergency response training course

A Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) completed a training course the week of August 21. Randolph County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), through a Homeland Security grant, sponsored the training class. This is the second CERT Team that has completed training in Randolph County.

Sixteen students completed the class and were awarded a certificate that shows they are now CERT team members of Randolph County. The students are Barbara Barnes, Brenda Bolt, Donna Evans, Lynn Garrett, Elaine Goodman, Dixie Hicks, Amanda Jennings, Teresa Jones, Debbie Meadows, Taylor Olson, Teresa Olson, Lisa Reed, Jane Riddle, Chuck Smith, Joann Strain and Z.O. Williamson.

The week-long class had several instructors. Ray Mansfield, Randolph County CERT coordinator, gave an introduction to CERT and an overview of the class. Donnie Knight, EMA director of Randolph County, discussed fire extinguishers and dealing with small fires. Jason Wright of the National Weather Service in Birmingham, taught a weather spotter class. Kevin Knight, paramedic instructor of LaGrange, taught emergency first aid training; and Randy Taylor, Autauga County EMA, taught light search and rescue techniques and fire extinguisher training.

The CERT Team is an organized group of local citizens who can be called upon to assist law enforcement or firefighters in case of a major disaster in the county.