Press Release - CERT DISASTER SIMULATION DRILL & GRADUATION CEREMONY

Date/Time of Occurrence:	February 11, 2006 , 10:00 a.m.
Nature of Occurrence:	Announcement
Location:	2409 Dean St.
City:	Sacramento
Business Name:	McClellan Business Park
MapQuest Link:	Click Here to See Map
Contact:	Captain Rich Shiraishi
Phone:	916-869-1214
Email:	nking@sfd.cityofsacramento.org

The Sacramento Region Citizen Corps Council CERT Academy, sponsored by the Sacramento Fire Department, will be conducting a disaster simulation drill and graduation ceremony for 35 students on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at the Northern California Regional Public Safety Training College, 2409 Dean Street, Suite #137, McClellan. The disaster simulation drill will be facilitated by a support team from the Sacramento Regional Office of Homeland Security that include over 70 community volunteers, Sacramento Fire Department, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department, Sacramento Sheriffs Department, and the Sacramento Police Department. This will be the first graduating class of the Sacramento Region Citizen Corps CERT Academy. The following are the particulars:

10:00 am to 12:00 pm – Disaster Simulation Drill.

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm – Graduation Ceremony.

Note: Media is invited to attend both events.

Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) is a 24-hour, 8 session comprehensive disaster preparation course for community members developed by FEMA. CERT teaches community members about important emergency response techniques in order to survive 72 hours or more following a large-scale disaster. The CERT program has existed in the Sacramento Region since 2003 through the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department, Sacramento Fire Department, and the Elk Grove Fire Department. Graduates become part of a volunteer network consisting of more than 500 other CERT trained community members from throughout the Sacramento region that are ready for service during emergencies or disaster events.

The Sacramento Region Citizens Corps Council (SRCCC) is a non-profit organization created in the aftermath of 9-11. The objective of the organization is to increase community emergency participation and preparedness to respond to and recover from disaster events. The SRCCC is comprised of a wide range of leaders from the public and private sectors as well as non-profit organizations, local government, emergency responder agencies, volunteer groups, health care systems, and faith based organizations. The current president is Bob Crawford who is a private citizen.

For more information about this event please contact Captain Rich Shiraishi, Sacramento Regional Office of Homeland Security, at 916/433-0895. He will also be available for the media on the day of the event.

Public Information Officer:

Battalion Chief Niko King