Keizer CERT Members Continue Assistance of Detroit and Idanha Residents

Keizer CERT Executive Director Greg Biben, said that his CERT members are highly motivated people who are always looking for way to help others and use their training.

CERT members Jerry Orlando (left) and William Audette (right) tackling a snow covered rood in Idanha. Photo courtesy: Keizer Fire

(KEIZER, Ore.) - The Keizer Community Emergency Response Team was activated and dispatched on Wednesday to the cities of Detroit and Idanha, Oregon. The team spent Wednesday and Thursday assisting residents with snow removal following the largest snow accumulation recorded in decades those cities.

Jim Trett with Keizer Fire says fifteen members of the CERT Program, sponsored by the Keizer Fire District, spent two day clearing roofs of homes and other structures that were in danger of collapsing due to heavy snow accumulation.

"The CERT members were the only organization who could work on snow covered roofs due to liability issues imposed by other relief agencies," he added.

"CERT members would assess the stability of the roof of a structure and if the roof was found to be sound they would access the roof and clear it of snow accumulation," Trett continued.

"If they felt the roof was not structurally sound they would clear as much snow from the structure as they could reach from ladders. The team was primarily concerned with helping residents who were elderly or residents with health issues."

Trett says eight CERT members responded on Wednesday and a seven person team worked on Thursday.

Stephanie Cook, Keizer CERT Volunteer Coordinator, said the team enjoys helping people who really need the assistance. She says the team is an excellent way for residents to lend a hand as volunteers.

"Community Emergency Response Team members are lay people in a community who receive eight weeks of specialized training to assist people in their neighborhoods in case of a large scale disaster, such as a hurricane or earthquake, until emergency services can arrive."

Keizer CERT Executive Director Greg Biben, said that his CERT members are highly motivated people who are always looking for way to help people and use their training. Biben said, "They are willing to travel to help other communities."

Biben also noted that Keizer CERT members spent time in Florida after a series of three hurricanes caused wide spread damage and in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina helping in recovery efforts.

He reminds Keizer residents that the next CERT training class is scheduled to begin on Thursday, March 6th at the Keizer Fire Station. Information on the class is available by contacting the Keizer Fire District at 503-390-9111 or visiting the District’s web site at keizerfire.com.