Volunteers wanted for disaster prep class

The Lake in the Hills Community Emergency Response Team is looking for volunteers for the next class. The training consists of 5 four-hour sessions once a week. The next class starts Thursday, Sept. 4.

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

CERT members are citizens trained in disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations

light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism and CERT.

The group will have a booth at the Summer Sunset Festival on Aug. 29-31 with volunteers available to answer questions. For citizens interested in joining the next class, call the Lake in the Hills Crime Prevention/Community Relations Division at (847) 658-5676, or e-mail Officer Story at Rstory@lith.org.