For the Reporter

The City of Auburn Emergency Management Division has announced the addition of 17 new members to the area’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), bringing the total number of graduates in the local program to 611.

The new members graduated from the area’s 35th CERT courses that included 24 intensive hours of training over three days. The training culminated in a hands-on practical exercise simulating an earthquake.

Graduates of the combined class included: Shannon Willden, William Freitag, Vickie Leaf, Sean Coburn, Seth Russell, Kenneth Brestar, Mary Warden, David Tate and James Tate of Auburn; Steven Eneix of Black Diamond; Penny Green and Beth Guessow of Covington; Gerry Maitland of Federal Way; Pamela Neumann of Kent; Nancy Jones of Lake Tapps; Colton Titus of Pacific; and Meghan Miley of Seattle.

The next CERT class will be Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 9:30, Oct. 9-Nov. 13.

Space is still available; pre-registration is required.

Information and applications for classes may be found on the City website at www.auburnwa.gov/disaster.