Maui Offers Free Disaster Preparedness Training in Lahaina

CERT training in fire suppression. Photo courtesy Maui Civil Defense Agency.

By Maui Now Staff

The County of Maui will host the latest edition of its CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training for volunteer disaster response in Lahaina in March.

CERT members are trained on hazard response to incidents that may impact the communities where they live.

The training includes basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

CERT training in fire suppression. Photo by Kimberley K. Mullen, courtesy Maui Civil Defense Agency.

CERT members can be called upon to offer critical support to professional first responders during large scale incidents such as hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes.

The six-day 30-hour program for CERT Basic Training consists of classroom instruction and field exercises. The training sessions are sponsored by the Maui Civil Defense Agency, and taught by instructors with the Maui Fire Department.

All training is provided free of charge through a federal grant obtained from the Homeland Security Department.

CERT training in fire suppression. Photo courtesy Maui Civil Defense Agency.

The upcoming Lahaina session will be held at the Princess Nahienaena Elementary School at the following dates and times:

• Tuesday, March 13, 2012:  6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 15, 2012:  6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 17, 2012:  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 20, 2012:  6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Thursday, March 22, 2012:  6 to 9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 24, 2012:  8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Additional CERT Basic Training sessions are planned in Kihei in May, Pukalani in July and Kahului in September.

For more information or to register, call or email Charnan Carroll, Civil Defense Staff Specialist & CERT Program Manager, at 270-7285 or [email protected].

***Supporting information courtesy County of Maui.