CERT in Action!
Southern Marin CERT Joins in Search-and-Rescue Effort
CERTs are not just a resource in times of major emergencies--they can also be activated for smaller local crises as well. On January 24th, 2011, the Southern Marin CERT in California was asked by the Sausalito Sheriff's office to assist with a search-and-rescue operation to locate an elderly woman with dementia who wandered away from her home. The 90-year-old woman became disoriented after a fire in her neighborhood disrupted her normal walking route.
After receiving calls through the Marin Emergency Activation Notification System around 5:00 PM on the 24th, 15 Marin CERT members reported to the incident command post at the Sausalito Fire Station. They were then assigned to search teams led by emergency response personnel. Members searched for the woman until midnight. Seven CERT members returned to continue the search at 7:00 AM the following morning.
Fortunately, by 8:00 AM, the woman had been spotted by two hikers who saw television news reports about the search. She was cold, tired, and hungry, but was otherwise in good condition. Paramedics transported her to the hospital for evaluation, and the search effort was brought to a successful close.
Larry Yoell, program coordinator for the Southern Marin CERT, said the activation not only allowed CERT members to assist in an important small-scale community emergency response effort, but also provided a chance for CERT members to practice their skills and use their equipment in preparation for when they are needed for a larger emergency.
For more information, go to www.smfd.org or contact Larry Yoell at lyoell@smfd.org.