Why CERT??

Vulnerability.. Many of our younger folks (55 and up) still are reasonably fit. It is tough for them to actually think of themselves as being "old". Yet at this end of life the ravages of time accelerate and living in this community you soon come face to face with the reality that you are aging and with aging comes loss of balance, strength and other age related infirmities.

With each new "NO" presented to us by our bodies and our doctors we learn the value of co-operation with others in the same boat. We live in a boat called the SS Longview Hills out of Newport, Oregon. It is a tight little ship comprised of 265 passengers. The passengers are all senior citizens who have signed on for the cruise of their lives.

So, as we bask in the bright summer fog (snicker) it occurred to me that everyone is enjoying the ride so much that they are ignoring the perils of the sea.... Everyone that is, except for a few who believe in preparing for emergencies... You know the ones keeping the lifeboats on our ship in good order and planning for the safety of our people. If I read history correctly those people have always been there through all time.

Those people seem to have this vision based on what? Well, maybe it is because of a sense of duty and service or it could be more cerebral based on scientific, historical fact. Say like maybe what the geophysicists at our own Hatfield Research Center working for NOAA have read in the geological record. They have a dire prediction of a reoccurring, 300(+-) year earthquake and attendant tsunami that hits this area.. The last one was in January, 1700. Your Emergency Services, Fire, Police, Sheriff, State Police, Hospital, Ambulance services, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Coast Guard... will be able to do what?

To answer that we can return to recent history... One word is all I need... Katrina. More? Bandeh Aceh. We tend to think of the above agencies of being there to save us because they always have been there. Most times there are only 3 or 4 police on duty, probably less than a half dozen sheriffs about the same in ambulance attendants, 2 Coast Guard Helicopters for the entire Oregon Coast, Maybe 3 or 4 State Police except late at night when there are sometimes, none. The hospital has 25 beds, I think. Our Fire Dept. has a small number of full time professionals that work with a large number of volunteers. Many of our 1st Responders will be off duty at any one time...

Will they come to work in an emergency when their own families are in jeopardy? Will some of them be injured themselves? Even if they did show up what could they do? They will be overwhelmed with rescue work. Where are you on their priority list?

LVH CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) may be the only help you have available not for days but weeks. That's why they train every week. Why they have cached medical supplies all over the park. Why they practice every kind of community disaster from high winds and power outages to ice storms, forest fires and yes, earthquake tsunami. Their numbers are in decline. One has passed away... Others are experiencing the ravages of time, still others have moved on to other pursuits. As the current members age the younger generation of retirees need to come to grips with the reality that there is still responsibility even though you are retired... Have fun, enjoy life... yes but give something back for all that you have received. CERT needs your involvement and leadership.. a few hours a month... come to our meetings on Monday at 10:00am.. its also a lot of fun.