By Crystal McCoy
Copperas Cove Leader Press

The sixth group of citizens to participate in the Community Emergency Response Team course graduated from training Saturday with a simulated disaster at Copperas Cove Fire Station No. 3.

More than 120 Copperas Cove residents have completed the program to date.

First year CERT graduates were on hand to assist with the final session and to provide encouragement to the newest group to complete the program.

"The only time we are called out is when the other rescue services are extended," first year CERT graduate Frank Gainer said. "We're the last point of contact. The other emergency services give us direction and we stand by until we are instructed on what to do."

Once trained, CERT members are able to provide numerous services in their neighborhoods in times of an emergency including: Increase their neighborhood's disaster readiness, assess damage after a disaster, extinguish small fires and teach fire safety, perform light search and rescue operations, perform triage and provide medical services to the injured and organize procurement of supplies.

"In this area, we really need to be prepared because of how close we are to Fort Hood, and we may find ourselves in a situation where responders can't get to us for 72 hours," first year CERT graduate Joyce Huckaby said. "You need to know what to do for yourself and for your neighbors."

Gary Young, training and EMY chief, said the fire department is pleased with the CERT program and would like to hold more than one class per year if more community members would show an interest.

"If they would, we would do this as many times as we can," Young said. "We are ready, willing and able."

The CERT training program is open to everyone interested, and it consists of seven three-hour classes.

A Homeland Security grant provides funds for all the program's need. The only thing the fire department has to provide is the manpower and facility, Young said.

"With Hurricane Ike there were a number of people in bad shape because they were not prepared to take care of themselves," Young said. "We provide CERT members with awareness and knowledge so they are not going to be the first to call 9-1-1; they are not totally overwhelmed and can deal with the situation. They can come together and assist the community in the time of a disaster."

Marilyn Aponte is one of the 16 newest CERT grads.

"The main reason I joined is to have an awareness of what I can do in the time of an emergency to assist the police and fire department," she said. "I have had first aid training before, but this is awesome to see what you can do as a team. In the time of an emergency we can all come together."

The following community members participated in the last round of CERT classes: Mark Aponte, Marilyn Aponte, Thomas Bader, Wilma Bader, Edith Freyer, Eleanor Matos, Gwendolyn McCoy, Meoh McNally, Courtney Mitchell, Roger O'Dwyer, Carole O'Dwyer, Erika Poppel, Johanna Wright, John Martin and Eugelia Martin.