November 17, 2003

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Asst. to the Fire Chief
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2411, page: 675-2137

Fire Department to Offer Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) Program

Looking for everyday citizens who want to serve their community and country in the event of disaster or terrorist attack . . .

The Shreveport Fire Department is taking that extra step in not only being prepared in the event of a major emergency in our area but in educating and training the public in how they can play a significant role if such an incident were to happen by offering the first Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program in our area. CERT is a Federally designed program to train citizens and communities help themselves in the event of a major disaster or emergency, including a terrorist attack. The Fire Department is now taking applications for this exciting and rewarding course.

The program provides basic training in disaster survival skills to improve citizen’s ability to survive and help their neighbors until emergency responders arrive. In 2003 President Bush specifically mentioned the CERT program when he asked all Americans to volunteer in the service of their country. This program will use the ability of each individiual through education, training and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime and disasters of all kinds. A goal of the Fire Department is to have enough interest in the program to eventually have CERT teams in different neighborhoods throughout the city.

This CERT class is offered as a public service by the Shreveport Fire Department:

When: November 21 and 22, 2003

Time: 8:30 - 5:30
Where: Shreveport Fire and Police Training Academy, 6440 Greenwood Road
Contact: Capt. John P. Lane @ 673-6766