Maple Valley Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members were called to an emergency disaster drill near Petrovitsky Road at 11 a.m. Feb. 20. The current CERT class volunteered to be patients for the drill and past CERT members were the workers. They practiced team organization, medical, search and rescue, triage, disaster psychology and fire safety. Maple Valley currently has more than 200 CERT members including seven captains and 24 HAM radio operators.

The Maple Valley CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact our area and they train members in basic disaster response skills. Using the training learned in the classroom and from exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. If anyone is interested in becoming a CERT member contact public education specialist Janine Johnson at janinej@maplevalleyfire.org.