Help Out Your Neighbors By Joining F.H./Rego Pk. CERT
The Forest Hills/Rego Park Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is composed of your neighbors-and now you have the chance to join them.
The city’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is offering a training course for potential new members on Wednesday, Feb. 27, in Rego Park. Contact Community Board 6 at 1-718-263-9250 if you are interested in joining the team.
Our CERT started training in September 2004 and graduated the following December after completing an intensive training course provided by OEM. The course taught us how to suppress small fires, assist in traffic and crowd control, help in light search and rescue, respond to medical emergencies and prepare for and assist in disaster situations. We also took a course on how to react to subway emergencies.
From 2004 to the present, we have recruited many new members who are now a part of our team.
As we are all too aware, our community and the city have just been through many natural disasters. Our CERT collected and distributed supplies for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. We have been in the neighborhood surveying damage and working with the first responders and government officials to help our community.
One of our missions is to help educate the general public on how to prepare in the event of an emergency. We are available if your group wants a public speaker on preparedness in the event of an emergency.
We also obtain literature from OEMand have set up tables at events for people to learn and obtain this valuable information.
If you wish to have us participate in your event, contact Board 6 at the aforementioned phone number. Other news
Rep. Grace Meng is the scheduled guest speaker at the 112th Precinct Community Council’s next meeting on Wednesday night, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the 112th Precinct stationhouse, located at the corner of Austin Street and Yellowstone Boulevard.
The March meeting of the precinct council will feature a forum on preventing violence against women. The March session will take place on Wednesday, Mar. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the stationhouse.
All are invited to attend both sessions.
Editor’s note: Heidi Harrison Chain is president of the 112th Precinct Community Council and a member of the Forest Hills/Rego Park CERT.
