End of Year CERT Class

On December 12th and 13th, the Delaware Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), led by Bob George and Marny McLee, provided a training course at the Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC) in Dover. This was our end-of-year class, intended for anyone in the community and throughout the state who did not get a chance to attend with another group earlier in the year.  Thirty eight students from DMRC, AmeriCorps, Del Tech Emergency Management, DTCC criminal justice students, and people on the CERT waiting list attended.  The point of contact for the class was Jeff Peck of the Delaware Technical and Community College.

Arbor Management Disaster Preparedness Presentation

On December 10th, Bob George and Marny McLee, Delaware Citizen Corps and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Coordinators, provided a disaster preparedness presentation at the Bethel AME Church in Smyrna.  Approximately thirty apartment managers, assistant managers, maintenance supervisors, and maintenance technicians of Arbor Management LLC attended the presentation. This was the second presentation for Arbor Management, which represents ten different apartment complexes in New Castle County. The presentation was taught to Arbor Management employees of Kent and Sussex counties.

DHSS CERT Class

Capt. Todd Reese, of the Wilmington Fire Department, teaches the cribbing module for extricating a trapped individual.

Margie Williams, City of Wilmington EOC/CERT Coordinator, demonstrates the proper approach and techniques for fighting a fire using the new Laser Digital Fire Suppression Machine.

On November 18th and 19th, Bob George and Marny McLee, along with the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), conducted training for the Department of Substance Abuse and Mental Health at the Herman Holloway Campus in New castle. They were assisted by staff from the Wilmington Emergency Operations Center and CERT. This was the fifth class held at DSAMH, approximately forty staff, counselors, and case workers attended. The point of contact was Jessica Washer from the Training Office.

Disaster Preparedness Presentation in New Castle

On November 5th,  Bob George and Marny McLee, Citizen Corps and Delaware Community Emergency Response Team Coordinators, provided a Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Chelten Apartments in New Castle.  Approximately forty managers, assistant managers, maintenance supervisors, and maintenance technicians of Arbor Management LLC attended the presentation. Arbor Management LLC represents ten different apartment complexes in New Castle County. A second presentation for Kent and Sussex Counties is in the planning stages.

University of Delaware CERT Class

On October 17th and 18th, the State Community Emergency Response Team, led by Bob George and Marny McLee, taught a CERT training class at the University of Delaware Campus in Newark.  Approximately twenty staff, students, and community members attended. The class was sponsored by the UD Citizen Corps Council. The council's head is Dr. Phyllis Guinivan of the Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS), who was the point of contact for those who attended the class.

Boyd Reed, CERT Medical Operations instructor from the DuPont Experimental Station and also a firefighter, demonstrates the head-to-toe assessment on student Abhishek Raval.

Tenth Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day a Success

Photo by Sandra Grzybowski

On September 20th, Delaware Citizen Corps co-hosted its Tenth Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day Event. DE Citizen Corps sponsored with the Kent County Public Safety/Emergency Management Office, as well as approximately fifty partner organizations, either state, local, or volunteer. Over 1,200 people attended the event, which was held at the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village in Dover. The day was filled with interactive exhibits and outreach games focused on preparedness.  This year, FEMA Region III made our event part of "America Prepare-A-Thon",  and was on hand to show residents a computer system identifying different Flood Zones in Delaware, and to inform them of their potential flood risk and how to prepare.

We'd like to offer a special thanks to our wonderful FEPD Committee: Bob George, Marny McLee, Rosanne Pack, Scott Martin, Rich Phillips of Citizen Corps, Colin Faulkner, Dave Mick, Brandon Olenik, Nicole Vautard of KCOEM, Betty Decker & April Cleveland of the Public Health Preparedness Section, Ann Gorrin & April Willey of Sussex County RSVP, Kay Dietz-Sass of Dover Emergency Management, Sharon Jefferson & Shaun Antrim of the American Red Cross, Tim Collins & Gary Laing of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, and Mark Vanderharr of the Delmarva Broadcasting Company.

Photo by Sandra Grzybowski

Delaware Citizen Corps Recognized with National Awards

September 9th, Bob George, Citizen Corps & CERT Program Manager, and Marny McLee, Citizen Corps & CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, received two awards at the White House in Washington D.C. The first award was a National FEMA Award for “Outstanding State Citizen Corps Council Initiatives.”  Delaware Citizen Corps was cited for numerous initiatives, such as the Delaware Council of Faith-Based Partnerships, in which we co-sponsored and presented workshops for faith leaders. Additional initiatives included a partnership with the University of Delaware’s Center For Disabilities Studies. Delaware Citizen Corps and their local Citizens Corps Council conducted multiple workshops and training events. Delaware Citizen Corps also supported and marketed a University of Delaware Center For Disabilities Studies web site, focused on preparedness for those with disabilities. We also partnered with the Public Health Preparedness Section to support a statewide radio preparedness message campaign that included a Spanish-language station, assisted with their annual Preparedness Night at the Wilmington Blue Rocks, and supported their Annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day Event.

The second award was the White House's “Champions of Change Award”. The Champions of Change is a special series carried out by the White House as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future Initiative. It profiles Americans from across the country, featuring extraordinary and innovative Americans who are helping to improve the nation, one community at a time. These individuals have taken great strides to improve the lives of others through charitable work, advocacy, and collaboration. These Champions of Change, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs and community leaders, are invited to the White House to share their ideas. Video from the awards ceremonies and information on each Champion is available on the White House website (www.whitehouse.gov/champions).

Family Emergency Preparedness Flyer

 We are gearing up for our tenth annual Family Emergency Preparedness Day, to be held on Saturday, September 20th at the Delaware Agriculture Museum in Dover, Delaware. Feel free to post, share, and distribute the attached flyer to help get the word out.

Click here for our 2013 Flyer

Kids Emergency Backpack Giveaway

On August 21st, Bob George, Citizen Corps and CERT Program Manager, and Marny McLee, Citizen Corps and CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, attended a Kids Emergency Backpack Giveaway at the park on DuPont & Second Street in Wilmington.  Citizen Corps provided the backpacks and supplies, which were handed out by the Wilmington EOC/Citizen Corps, Red Cross, Delmarva Power and the Wilmington Department of Parks and Recreation as part of their Summer Feeding Program. Approximately seventy kids aged five through twelve attended the event, along with their parents and grandparents.

Bob George also interviewed with DelawareOnline, which is available here.

Barclay Farms CERT Class

On July 11th and 12th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), lead by Bob George and Marny McLee, presented a CERT training course at the Barclay Farms Senior Community in Camden, DE.  Forty block captains and residents attended the two day disaster preparedness class. The point of contact was Sally Bowman.

92 year old resident Mrs. Messemer gets last minute fire extinguisher training from CERT instructor Capt J. David Majewski of the Goodfellow Fire Co, in preparation the Digital Fire Suppression Exercise.

Faith Based Planning Workshop

On June 18, Delaware Citizen Corps and the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) partnered with the Governor's Council on Faith Based Organizations to conduct their first Emergency Preparedness conference/workshop. The Governor attended the workshop, as did the President's appointed Faith Based representative, Rev. David L. Myers. Rep. Myers is the Senior Advisor to the Administrator/Director of the  FEMA/DHS Center for Faith-Based & Neighborhood Partnerships. Forty faith leaders from around the state attended, as well as Gov. council members Chairman Rev. Doug Gerdts and workshop coordinators Flora McConkie (council secretary) and Marny McLee (Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator).

Gov. Markel presents Rev. Tom Edwards of St. Mark's United Methodist Church with a Citizen Corps Disaster/Emergency Kit. Also pictured is Rev. Doug Gerdts, Gov. Council Chairman (left) and Robert George, Citizen Corps Program Manager (right).

Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Training

On June 11th and 12th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), lead by Bob George (CERT Program Manager) and Marny McLee (CERT Coordinator), taught a training course for the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health. Thirty four councilors, social workers, managers, and staff took the two day training at the Herman Holloway Campus in New Castle.  This was the fourth CERT class taught for DSAMH. The point of contact was Jessica Washer.

Wilmington Office of Emergency Management Director George Giles teaches the Fire Suppression Module

Citizen Corps Disaster Preparedness Night at the Blue Rocks

On May 23rd, the Delaware Citizens Corps, Wilmington and New Castle County Offices of Emergency Management and Citizen Corps Councils will sponsor a "Disaster Preparedness Night" at Frawley Stadium in Wilmington. Game time is at 7:05 P.M. The goal of the evening is to raise awareness for emergency preparedness. There will be an outfield preparedness sign, nine Citizen Corps Disaster Kit give-a-ways, and preparedness announcements. There will also be games shown on the Jumbo-Tron and outreach material table displays. In addition to "Disaster Preparedness Night", there will also be  fireworks following the game. Citizen Corps Training and Outreach Coordinator and Retired Air Force Veteran, Marny McLee Sr., will sing the National Anthem.

The event is also in partnership with the American Red Cross, Public Health Preparedness Section, and the Medical Reserve Corps.  Delaware Citizens Corps is a Department of Homeland Security Program run by Bob George, Program Manager for the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.

Medical Reserve Corps CERT Class

On Apr 11th and 12th, the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), led by Bob George and Marny McLee, conducted a CERT training class for the Delaware and Christiana Care Medical Reserve Corps. Approximately twenty-five volunteers attended the class, which was held at the Christiana Hospital. Justin Kates, past Delaware Citizen Corps Contractor and now City of Nashua, New Hampshire's Emergency Management Director, was in town and stopped by to teach the fire suppression and cribbing modules.  The coordinators and points of contact for the class were Ingrid Hansen of the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps, and P. Jane Walmsley of the Christiana Care Medical Reserve Corps.

Spring Arbor Community Preparedness Training

On March 28th and 29th, Bob George, Citizen Corps/CERT Program Manager, and Marny McLee, Citizen Corps/CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, led the State Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in presenting a Training Class in Middletown.  The course was held at the Spring Arbor 55+ Active Senior Community. The point of contact for the course was Kathy Dahle. Due to inclement weather, the class was unable to go outside to traning on fire suppression or our cribbing exercises. But this being a CERT preparedness course, the team was prepared with a backup plan and utilized their new, electronic digital fire suppression machine for the training instead.

Winterthur Museum Preparedness Training

On March 24, Bob George, Citizen Corps/CERT Program Manager, gave a Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Winterthur Museum on Kennett Pike. He was supported by Marny McLee, Citizen Corps/CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, and Dave Ham, Citizen Corps and CERT Contractor. Over forty members of their Emergency Preparedness Team attended the presentation. The Disaster Preparedness Presentation is a block of instruction from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Course, which Lois attended at Dover Airforce Base last year as a member of the Delaware Disaster Assistance Team (DDAT). The point of contact for the class was Lois Price, Director of Conservation for the Museum.

Barclay Farms Senior Living Preparedness Presentation

On February 28, Bob George, Citizen Corps and CERT Program Manager, and Marny McLee, Citizen Corps and CERT Training and Outreach Coordinator, presented a Disaster Preparedness Presentation at the Barclay Farms Senior Living Community in Camden, DE. Over fifty block captains attended the presentation. The presentation was very well received and those who attended have been invited back to do a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training Course in July.