Seminole Lakes Community Emergency Response Team
SLCC CERT
The damages caused by a natural or man-made disaster can severely restrict or overwhelm the first emergency responders from Punta Gorda and/or Port Charlotte to our community. In essence, we could be isolated from the surrounding communities. In the time that it takes for these emergency responders to answer our calls, we, in Seminole Lakes, will have to rely on our own resources. It is for this reason that the Seminole Lakes Community Emergency Response Team (SLCC CERT) has been established.
In order to be effective, the SLCC CERT preplans for these emergencies before they occur. To be effective, our duties consist of:
Disaster preparedness.
Identifying the types of hazards most likely to affect our homes and surrounding areas.
Identifying disaster location addresses.
Reporting information to a centralized location for relay to responding emergency services.
Stabilizing victims and areas, if possible.
Performing first aid, if able.
Maintaining communications with the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center.
By "fanning out’ within assigned areas, we can concentrate on:
Identifying areas of concern and to prioritizing them in order of importance.
Conducting light search and rescue missions.
Providing medical treatment as required by treating life-threatening injuries until professional assistance can be obtained.
Extinguishing small fires, if our safety is assured.
Assisting disaster survivors to cope with their emotional stress.
It is essential to note that SLCC CERT’s response will only be initiated upon a declared disaster. SLCC CERT is not empowered to act in place of the emergency responders such as Fire/EMT, but as an adjunct to assist these services after the disaster.
It should be noted that CERT in not a committee per say; but a group of organized volunteers with a single purpose. That being to assist our neighbors in times of an emergency. As of this date, there is a total membership of 22 residents, including 3 that are FCC licensed radio operators. The CERT Leader liaisons with the POA Board president in order to maintain a line of communications within the community during emergency situations.
CERT Leader:s Mike Hirsh and Audrey Temple
Board Liaison: Robert Toth, current president
MEMBERS:
Bill Ambrose, Catherine Negrycz, Fred Eyrich, Roy & Mary Nelson, Rosemary
Harrington, Galen Price, Jurgen Hasenkamp, John Speer, Michael Hirsh , Julian &
Audrey Temple, Jay Huber, John Walters, Chuck & Debbie Marklin, Jack Ward, Bill
& Vicki Murphy, Roger & Joan Williams
Dated: December 29, 2011