Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Emergency Management is enrolling citizens for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. The seven classes are on Tuesday evenings (from October 2, through November 13, 2012), and each session runs from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Classes are held at the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center (1100 SE 27th Street, Gainesville). The classes are free, and the registration deadline is September 27, 2012.

Alachua County Emergency Management Coordinator, Ebbin Spellman said, "It is never too early to begin preparing for the 2012 Hurricane Season, and there’s no better way than to attend the CERT program." He continued, "CERT teaches citizens how to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters."

Class topics include:

·         Disaster Preparedness

·         Fire Safety

·         Disaster Medical Operations

·         Light Search and Rescue Operations

·         CERT Organization and Disaster Psychology

·         Terrorism and CERT

Registration is available online.

For more information, call Alachua County Emergency Management at 352-264-6500.