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Order your Lowcountry CERT shirts, coffee mugs, etc.

$2 from every sale will go to Lowcountry CERT!

 
 

   
 

NEW Volunteer Opportunity!

 

Charleston County EOC Support Team

Charleston County Emergency Management is looking for CERT volunteers who would like to join our Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Support Team. Duties would include assisting in EOC set up, Staff check- in and EOC support during activations for a major event. These events may include hurricanes, tornado strikes, hazardous materials spills, and other natural and manmade disasters. Participation on the team does not obligate you to respond to all activations, only when you are available.

For more information or to volunteer contact:

 

Jim Tarter, CERT Liaison Coordinator
Office: (843) 202-7405

Cell:     (843) 323-1119

Email: jtarter@charlestoncounty.org

 
 

Upcoming Meetings:

Lowcountry CERT Annual Meeting, Elections & Family Event

 

Date: Saturday, February 11, 2012

Time: 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

Location: Wannamaker County Park, Cypress Hall.

8888 University Boulevard, North Charleston, SC 29406

 

Elections and Meeting: There is no cost to attend the Annual Meeting & Elections!

 

Elections will be from 4:00 - 4:30 pm. The positions up for election this year are Board Chair and Secretary. Please take a moment to consider those you have met in CERT who may have the dedication and enthusiasm worthy of these very important positions. Perhaps you may be the right person for one of the posts. If you have what it takes, don’t hesitate to nominate yourself. To be on the printed ballots please send your Nomination by January 15, 2012 to: Danica Sancic, Election Committee Chair at: dsancic@att.net  or call (843) 810-0314.

 

The Family Event: The event will be catered by the award winning BRITTON’S BBQ!

 

The Family Event will be from 4:00 – 7:00 pm with Food, Games and Fun for the Family.

 

We will be having the Chili Cook off from 4:00 - 4:30 pm. and Door Prizes during the day.

 

To register for the Chili Cook-off, email: Crosby@aCharlestonHome.com

 

Because this is a catered event, we are asking a donation of $ 10.00 per person (Kids under 15 free). We need your Reservation by February 1, 2012.

 

Please send payment and number in your party to:

 

Lowcountry CERT

P.O. Box 71194, North Charleston, SC 29405

 

Or via PayPal: (Donation button on www.LCERT.org ).

 

This year we want to get more involved in our community and give back to those in need.

 

We are asking all members and attendees to bring a nonperishable food item to be donated to Low Country Food Bank.

 

Stay tuned for more updates!

 

 

Berkeley County CERT Meetings

The Berkeley County CERT is off to a good start!

Berkeley County CERT will be holding regular meetings.

 

Date:  The third Saturday of each month at

Time: 10:00 am

Location: The Emergency Operations Center,

223 N. Live Oak Dr., Moncks Corner, SC 29461

Unless otherwise announced.

 

For more information contact:

 

Tom Smith, Director Berkeley County Emergency Preparedness
TSmith@berkeleycountysc.gov
843-719-4817 (office)
843-729-4860 (cell)

 

Upcoming Events::

 

Please take advantage of the events and training to help you take these steps to get prepared:

1.   Get a kit of emergency supplies

2.   Make a plan of what you will do

3.   Be informed about what might happen

4.   Get involved in preparing your community

Having a plan and the tools in place to make it on your own for a period of time can be crucial!

Ready Lowcountry partners will continue to organize events and training throughout the year.

Be sure to check the schedule often as information is updated as soon as it becomes available.

 

Local Emergency Information

 

 


 

Free Training:

Basic Storm Spotter Training

 

Charleston County Emergency Management is hosting Basic Storm Spotter training!

 

Date: Wednesday, March 7, 2012

 

Time: 6:30 PM (Duration: 2 hours)

 

Location: Charleston County EOC

                  4045 Bridgeview Dr, Room 339

                  N. Charleston, SC 29405

 

Basic Storm Spotter training is provided by the National weather Service. The training will include a brief introduction to the National Weather Service (NWS), the different types of hazardous weather and how to safely observe them, the types of severe weather to report and how to send those reports to the NWS. No prior knowledge of weather or weather observing is necessary to take this class.

 

To Register Contact:

James Tarter, Training Coordinator

Charleston County Emergency Management Department

Email: jtarter@charlestoncounty.org

Office: (843) 202-7405

 


ALL Lowcountry CERT Members are invited to attend!

James Island/Folly Beach CERT Team

Meeting and Programs

2011 – 2012

Unless otherwise noted Location & Time to be

JIFD Station 1, Camp Road, 6:30 – 7:30 pm

 

DATE

PROGRAM

September 22, 2011

Search and Rescue Part 1

We go over Search Rescue safety procedures and proper equipment.  We will review marking protocols for buildings searched, building size-up and special considerations.  We will practice turning off electricity and gas and discuss hazardous situations and what to do if hazardous materials are encountered.   Special guests will be members of the JIFD and Charleston County Rescue Squad.

October 20, 2011

Earthquakes!

We will have a presentation from the South Carolina Earthquake Education and Preparedness Group at the College of Charleston about what earthquakes do, what to expect from an earthquake and things to do and not to do during an earthquake.  We will then have a discussion with officers from JIFD concerning what JICERT can do to assist them after an earthquake.  We will plan out what JICERT needs to have in the way of tools and supplies and discuss ways to get obtain these materials and where to store them.

November 17, 2011

Disaster Medical Care Part 1

We will practice disaster triage and bandaging methods.  We will have some volunteers to assist us with this and play “victim”.  Team Members are encouraged to bring children and relatives to this drill to be their personal “victims”.   Members of the JIFD and Charleston County EMT’s will be invited to help demonstrate types of bandages and methods of splinting broken limbs.  The critical ABC checks of victims will be reviewed and we will discuss treatment of burn victims.

 

December 15, 2011

Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Operations

We will discuss basic fire safety around the home and at work, what to do if a fire starts when you are out in public, the science of fire and how it behaves and how we can interface with the JIFD during a fire emergency.  We will also practice putting out fires with a fire extinguisher with the assistance of the JIFD.   This is a great Drill to invite friends and relatives that may be interested in joining CERT to attend and important for the Holiday Season.

January 19, 2012

Disaster Medical Operations Part 2

We will look at the criteria for establishing treatment areas, things to avoid, victim placement and Public Health Considerations.  We will also go over basic head-to-toe medical assessments.  Bring your CERT Backpack to this meeting as we will go over the medical supplies in them and make sure everyone has what they need.

February 16, 2012

Search and Rescue Part II

We will practice hands on search and rescue applications including a practice building search and the use of bracing and cribbing.  JIFD will be assisting us.  Please bring your CERT go-bags as you will need the equipment in them for this drill.

March 15, 2012

Tornadoes and Other Severe Weather

We will be looking at the other types of natural disasters that we can experience in the Lowcountry besides hurricanes.  Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms are common to our area, especially this time of year.  We will discuss warning signs, what to expect and how to prepare as a CERT Team member.  We will have a guest speaker to talk about the weather particulars, TBA.

April 19, 2012

Disaster Psychology

We will discuss the issue of how to deal with the victims of a disaster from a psychological standpoint.  Topics will include elderly care (what to tell Grandma), adult care (how am I ever going to start over?), Teen and young adult issues (what can I do to help/I need to do something), and children’s issues (I’m scared and don’t know what is happening).  We will also discuss the psychological issues for rescuers, aid givers and response personnel.  What are the warning signs of stress for you and others and how to respond.  We will have a qualified special guest to lead this discussion; TBA.

May 12, 2012

James Island/Folly Beach Hurricane Expo

We will be having our annual Hurricane Expo with local agencies and groups represented.  More information will be posted as we get closer to the event.

May 17, 2012

Personal Disaster Preparations

We will be reviewing our personal disaster plans, evacuation routes and emergency contact information.  As CERT members, we know that we have to take care of ourselves and families first in any disaster.  This drill will go over what tools, equipment and supplies we have gathered and stored, what things we may need, where to get items and what cool things folks have for emergencies.

June 21, 2012

Hurricane Season is Here, Again

This year we will discuss what we will do as a CERT Team before, during and after a hurricane.  We will discuss personal preparations, evacuation routes and destinations, when to know to come back, what to expect after the storm and how to respond after the storm as a CERT member.  We will actually run through a table-top scenario to simulate such a disaster so everyone knows what to expect.

July 19, 2012

Summer Safety Issues and First Aid Concerns

This meeting will focus on safety issues specific to the summer months.  Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, Dehydration, Muscle Cramps, Insect Bites and Stings as well as Sunburn all will be examined as personnel issues for the CERT Team Members and also as first Aid issues for disaster victims.  We will also plan for CERT Team comfort stations and shelters for hot weather including our canopy tents, fans and possibly air conditioners with generators.ors.

August 16, 2012

Annual Equipment Check

The Team will be holding our annual CERT Go-Bag Equipment Check and Inventory.  Plan to bring your bag and to share ideas with other Team members.  We usually have a good time discovering what others put in their disaster kits and what are their family evacuation plans.  This will also include a discussion of personal items to include such as extra clothing, toothbrush and tooth paste, soap and a towel and mouthwash.  We don’t think about these things before a disaster, but afterwards, when you are doing CERT Team operations, you don’t want to get caught without toilet paper!

September 20, 2012

Basic First Aid Refresher

This will not be a review of disaster medical procedures, but rather a training drill about basic first aid.  We will discuss the ABC checks of victims, PPE, what to do for burns, cuts, breaks and sprains.  We will use a current edition first aid manual as our guide, TBA.  We will also have a trained EMT to assist.

October  18, 2012

Terrorism Response and CERT

This month we will review the role of CERT in responding to terrorism here in the Charleston Area and especially here on James Island and Folly Beach.  We will go over preparations to take at home and at work, guidelines for sheltering in place, types of terrorist threats, what to watch out for in our community and WMD threats.  Members from local DHS and FEMA offices will be present to help us plan and prepare for this emergency situation.

November 15, 2012

Disaster Medical Care Part 1

We will practice disaster triage and bandaging methods.  We will have some local Scouts to assist by being “victims” and members are invited to bring their children and relatives to be “victims” as well.  JIFD and Charleston County EMT’s will be our guests to help demonstrate proper bandaging and splinting methods.  We will also discuss the ABC’s of victim triage and basic treatments of burn victims.

December 13, 2012

Fire Safety and Fire Extinguisher Operations

We will discuss basic fire safety around the home and at work, what to do if a fire starts when you are out in public, the science of fire and how it behaves and how we can interface with the JIFD during a fire emergency.  We will also practice putting out fires with a fire extinguisher with the assistance of the JIFD. 

January 17, 2013

Disaster Medical Operations Part 2

We will look at the criteria for establishing treatment areas, things to avoid, victim placement and Public Health Considerations.  We will also go over basic head-to-toe medical assessments.  Bring your CERT Backpack to this meeting as we will go over the medical supplies in them and make sure everyone has what they need.

 

 

This is the proposed schedule for the next 17 months for the James Island/ Folly Beach CERT Team. Dates and topics more than 6 months from September 2011 are subject to change and/or revision. We will be adding other events as they are available.

 


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