Emergency Preparedness Mercer County’s first Disabilities CERT team was activated on March 13th due to the severe weather. Two team members responded to the Mercer County EOC (Emergency Operations Center,) where they assisted in the response operations conducted by the County. The Mercer County Office for the Disabled and PCIL are now recruiting for the second CERT team (Community Emergency Response Team) comprised of people with disabilities. If you have a disability and are interested, please contact the Progressive Center. We proudly completed the American Red Cross Shelter Operations and Simulations Training in January, to add to the list of latest certifications. Four members of the Spokespersons program will be completing that course next month. The Spokesperson’s Program, has had a face lift! Jerry Carbone is our new Chairperson and new positions have been implemented. We would like to thank Carina Marzec, Chris Haase, Norman Smith, and Leonard Pope for stepping up and taking the new positions. This quarter, The Progressive Center has given several Emergency Preparedness and Fire Prevention Trainings to Project Freedom Inc. as a part of the EOP (Emergency Operations Plan). The training team consisted of Scott Ellis (PCIL) Jerry Carbone (PCIL) Graham Smith of the Trenton Fire Dept., Lashunda Harden from the Mercer County Office for the Disabled, and Norman Smith of Project Freedom New projects Cornell University has contracted The Progressive Center to create their Business Continuity Awareness course, to be completed in June of 2010. Business Continuity is “how” a Company or Human Service Organization would continue to operate during and after a disaster. PCIL had a meeting with Hamilton twp. Councilman Tom Goodwin, Hamilton twp. Fire Commissioner District #7, Adam Bendas, and Kelly Rouba of EAD & Assoc. about bringing the Adaptive Equipment Demo to Hamilton twp. in conjunction with Capital Health Systems. This is a training for first responders on the intricacies of adaptive equipment. Details to follow. The Five Excuses not to get Prepared 1.That could never happen here. 2. Even if it does happen here, it won’t happen to me. 3. Even if it does happen to me, it won’t be that bad. 4. Even if it is that bad, then I can get emergency supplies anytime. 5. Even if I can’t get emergency supplies, then the government will save me. Have you ever heard yourself making these same excuses? It is important for you to know how they can make you less safe. So remember the four “P”s of Emergency Preparedness. Plan, Prepare, Practice, Pass it on.