MONROE, Conn. — Whenever natural disasters and pandemics strike, a group of citizens assist police officers and other first responders. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members can be seen operating emergency shelters, assisting at clinics, conducting traffic, and participating in light search and rescue missions.
On Nov. 20, six new members of Monroe’s CERT team took the loyalty oath and received their equipment during a small graduation ceremony at the Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service’s headquarters, after having completed at least 20 hours of training.
“We have a nice, active group,” CERT Coordinator David York said of those joining Monroe’s team, which includes 120 certified members — though not all stay active.
The new members include Robert Baker, Antje Lange, Iryna Lototskyy, Win Almira Mandy-Minopoli, Herman Olivera III and Christina Velgot.
“It’s just the good feeling of helping other people, because we help the community,” said Claudia Wallace, a CERT member of nine years and a 21-year Monroe resident. “We did a lot during Covid.”
Wallace said she learned about CERT from York, who is also part of United Methodist Church in town. When her son was old enough, Wallace decided to take the course.
On Nov. 20, Wallace’s identical twin sister, Christina Velgot, graduated from the program.
“I live in Stratford. I did the Stratford course years ago, but never finished,” Velgot said.
When she later took part in a mass casualty exercise with Monroe CERT at the former Chalk Hill School, Velgot said she thought about completing the course this time.
“I think part of my nature is wanting to help people,” she said.
The course was taught by CERT instructors from the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, as well as local instructors from the Monroe Police Department, town fire companies and EMS.
CERT volunteers are trained for a variety of emergency skills, including disaster psychology, first aid, CPR and AED, fire safety, traffic control, hazardous materials awareness, emergency shelters, light search and rescue, disaster scenarios and terrorism.
Aside from more common occurrences in Fairfield County, such as snowstorms and power outages, York said Monroe’s students learned about less typical disasters like tornadoes.
York said this is because Connecticut has been getting more high wind events and some CERT members may move out of state one day. Once someone is certified as a CERT member, it is for life and goes with them.
CERT members also provide assistance for events that are not emergencies, including the Monroe Bicentennial Celebration, the CT United Ride and parades.
CERT trainers Gregg Celentano and Susan Amster, who is part of the executive committee, also attended the graduation ceremony.
After the six new members recited their loyalty oath, they received CERT backpacks filled with items they will need, as well as green CERT caps, knit winter hats, vests and notebooks.
Members take a loyalty oath every two years.
“I like the idea of being able to help yourself and neighbors in your community,” Lange said of the skills she and other CERT members learned. “I think it’s a good thing to work together and help each other out when we need to.”
“If I can organize and help my family, then I can help other people too,” she added.
“There is a lot of negativity in the news,” York said. “One thing I love about CERT is we’re out here helping each other.”
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