Tribe’s Emergency Planning Office Offering Community Emergency Response Team and Disaster Site Worker Training
Mar 14, 2018
AKWESASNE, NY — The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Emergency Planning Office will be hosting a combined training course for individuals interested in becoming members of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) or an OSHA 7600 Disaster Site Worker. It will be a second training opportunity for volunteers interested in helping fellow community members during a disaster situation.
The training will begin on Monday, March 26, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Akwesasne Housing Authority’s Training Center located at 378 State Route 37 in Akwesasne New York; with a meal provided. The course will entail ten (10) training sessions, which will convene from March 26th until May 2nd.
Instructors will include staff from the SRMT Emergency Planning Office; SRMT Safety Officer Adrian McDonald, who is a certified New York State Fire Instructor and member of the Hogansburg-Akwesasne Volunteer Fire Department; Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Chief of Police Matthew Rourke and others.
The CERT and Disaster Site Worker training course will educate and prepare volunteers for different types of hazards that may affect the community of Akwesasne. Individuals will receive training on the National Incident Management System, fire safety and suppression, health hazard, light search and rescue, and demolition and debris removal, to name a few topics.
When successfully completed, CERT members will possess knowledge of the consistent and nationwide-accepted approach for responding to disaster situations. They will provide invaluable support needed for professional first responders to prioritize and focus on emergency responses that are more urgent.
Disaster Site Worker training will enhance skilled support services often needed during and after an incident; such as utility, demolition, debris removal, or heavy equipment operation. The course will make site workers aware of the differences between disaster sites and regular construction or demolition worksites. The course will help emphasize how pre-incident training is essential for ensuring site worker safety and health.
The SRMT Emergency Planning Office is hoping to reach or surpass the number of twelve (12) volunteers that participated in CERT training provided last year. To participate, individuals must be 16-years old or older and can register by calling the SRMT Emergency Planning Office at (518) 358-2272 ext. 2210 or ext. 2230.
PHOTO CAPTION: The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's Emergency Planning Office will be holding Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Disaster Site Worker Training from March thru May 2018. CERT and Disaster Site Workers are instrumental in helping the Akwesasne community respond and recover from disaster situations, which includes assisting first responders in overseeing sandbagging operations during the St. Regis River Flood in February 2018.
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The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council is the duly elected and federally recognized government of the Saint Regis Mohawk People