The City of Auburn Emergency Management Office recently announced the addition of 13 new members to the area’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), bringing the total number of graduates in the local program to 276.

The 13 new members graduated from the area’s 15th CERT course, which included three days of intensive training and culminated in a hands-on practical exercise simulating an earthquake.

Graduates included community members from Auburn, Bonney Lake, Puyallup, and Redmond.

Graduates of the class included: Mary Seiwert from Bonney Lake, Annaliese Ferreria from Puyallup, Stephanie Farrow from Redmond, and Conor Moore, Jodi Riker Yap, Bill Biggs, Merrilou Gronholdt, Richard Lundstrom, Tracey McCallister, Theran Meadows, Eva Murphy, Jacob Hallock, and James Turner from Auburn.

The City, in conjunction with the White River Valley Citizen Corps Council, is offering a six-week course next month at no cost to community members but participants must pre-register. The group will meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays, beginning Oct. 5 and ending Nov. 9, in the Auburn Emergency Operations Center. The course includes two Saturday drills: Oct. 23 and Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

For more information or to register please call 253-876-1925 or e-mail emergencyprep@auburnwa.gov. Applications also are available online at www.auburnwa.gov/disaster.

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. Emergency management and fire department professionals from throughout the area teach the courses.