Waterford Township Seeks Volunteers for Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT)
(Mark H. Stowers, June 27, 2023)
Waterford Township, MI – One key ingredient in helping respond to disasters in today’s world are trained volunteers. Waterford Township approved and funded their first dedicated Emergency Management Coordinator in 2019. Former Policeman Brendan Brosnan was named as the coordinator. He then began recruiting for the first Citizens Emergency Response Team in Waterford.
That first class recently graduated as 16 volunteers went through a 30 hour, federally mandated, in-person training plus an additional 10 hours of nationally recognized on-line disaster training to become certified Citizens Emergency Response Team members. These volunteers will assist Waterford Police and Fire Departments with specific tasks during emergencies.
Brosnan explained more about the program and what it entails as the Coordinator.
“My position is to identify threats to the community and develop plans in regard to recovery and mitigation. Oakland County Airport has 197,000 take-offs and landings and that will have a number of potential accidents or disasters from plane crashes to jet fuel leaks,” Brosnan said.
A jet fuel pipeline comes through the township, a complex rail system and a “number of 302 sites” that have hazardous material and need to have plans in place for recovery and mitigation in place that might be leaking.
There is also faith based facilities and schools that number around 80 that all have to have hazard plans written.
“My last 20 years was with S.W.A.T. and I have all kinds of certifications to teach first responders and other S.W.A.T. officers and that equates to helping schools and their faculty,” he said. “I’ve been tasked with planning for the parade, so we do planning, not to stop something. You really can’t stop something but you do your best. You just have to have your resources in place.”
Brosnan has been steadily building the CERT team and has prior experience helping build similar teams in the past.
“A well trained volunteer group can be there to assist first responders when their numbers are thin,” he said. “Waterford has a lot of powerlines and if we have an ice storm or high wind events that down power lines you get multiple calls for downed power lines. You need multiple eyes out there to lessen the demand on first responders.”
If a major intersection goes down, half of law enforcement could be there to run that situation. But CERT members could be there to run that intersection and help law enforcement answer other emergency calls.
“We are ready to start our second membership push,” Brosnan said. “Our graduates are all excited to get started and more than willing to give their time to help ensure our community is a safe place to live, work and visit.”
For more information, check out https://www.waterfordmi.gov/1242/Citizens-Emergency-Response-Team or call 248.674.0351.
A video on the website also helps explain the program:
