By Staci Dennis
The Virginian-Pilot

OCEANFRONT, Va. -- Sheila Livingston arrived on the scene just after the collapse of a four-story building.

Bodies were strewn about the rubble, and people were screaming for help.

She grabbed her two-way radio and headed toward the debris . "I want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem," she said. "I want to help, not hinder."

Livingston was participating in a drill at the Virginia Beach Fire Training Center after graduating from the Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, program.

It educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area, and it trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, minimal search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

"We need more volunteers in this area because it makes our community safe," said Cookie Ketcham, CERT coordinator. "We want people to be trained so they don't go out and hurt themselves or anyone else in the event of a disaster."

For more than a month, 15 CERT students met twice a week for classes. After 36 hours of training, two classes converged on the training center's urban search and rescue area to test their knowledge.

They extinguished fires, helped trapped victims out of the rubble and organized a triage unit.

"I am a concerned citizen wanting to do my part," said Bunk Abey, who was named the incident commander for the day. "It's a good idea to be prepared."

Abey, 60, said the last time a disaster hit his neighborhood, everything turned to chaos.

"It was when Hurricane Isabel hit, and it took help a long time to get to where we were," the Whitehurst Landing resident said. "Next time something like that happens, we won't have to wait because I will know what to do."

CERT members are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community, Ketcham said.

According to the city's Web site, citizens who participate in CERT training, which is funded by a FEMA grant, have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of disasters on themselves, friends, family and co-workers

To date, 450 people have been certified in the program, which began in 2003. Class participants receive a kit complete with backpack, vest and helmet during the class.

"These people leave this training with a better awareness level in how to assist if needed," said firefighter William Reynolds. "It's a valuable asset to the city."

Copyright 2007 Landmark Communications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved