The City of Auburn Emergency Management Division has announced the addition of eight new members to the area’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), bringing the total number of graduates in the local program to 711.

The group graduated from the area’s 42nd CERT course that included 24 intensive hours of training over the past six weeks. The training culminated in a hands-on practical exercise simulating an earthquake.

Graduates of the class included: Cheryl Balke, Christopher Balke, John Balke, Andy Cameron, Norm Dobin, Teresa Dobin, Karen Shelley, Jimmy Smith and Asif Syed.

This was the City’s final CERT class for 2016. There are four classes planned for 2017, starting in March. The City’s website will have the complete schedule once the dates are finalized.

About CERT training

CERT training is comprised of 24 hours of classroom education and hands-on practice in topics including disaster preparedness, emergency management, fire safety/suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster communication, disaster psychology, and all-hazards identification and awareness.

Graduates have the opportunity to become registered emergency workers with their respective cities and the state of Washington, allowing them to aid in local and regional disasters. Graduates also have the opportunity to participate in local and regional continuing education activities, including training and field exercises. Courses are sponsored by the City of Auburn’s Office of Emergency Management and taught by fire and emergency management professionals from the cities of Auburn, Pacific, and the Valley Regional Fire Authority.