Mountain residents won’t soon forget the flooding of January 2011 and the
damage it caused – or the havoc brought by floods in years past.

Nor will we forget the Dollar Lake Fire during the summer of 2011, which
burned 6,300 acres of forest north of Mount Hood and filled our skies with
smoke, ash, and embers for a few days. Fortunately, the fire stayed away
from our communities.

Although we haven’t had any large-scale natural disasters since 2011, these
kinds of events are sure to occur again – perhaps this winter or summer.

Forest fires, earthquakes, ice storms, and volcanic eruptions may happen at
any time. Are you and your family prepared for this sort of emergency
situation? Is your neighborhood? Your community?

The Hoodland Emergency Action Response Team (HEART) is offering classes
to help you prepare for these emergencies. HEART is a Community Emergency
Response Team – CERT, as defined by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency – that was formed after the destructive flooding of 1996. Since then,
more than 150 Mountain residents have completed the FEMA-approved CERT
training in providing first aid, evacuations, light search-and-rescue operations,
and other vital services during natural and human-caused disasters, all in
support of Hoodland Rural Fire Protection District No. 74.

This month, HEART will offer the first of a two-part CERT training class from 8
a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Church on The Mountain. The second
class will be next month, on Saturday, Feb. 8, same time and location. You’ll
need to attend both classes to become an active HEART member. Topics
covered include disaster preparedness, fire safety, first aid and disaster
medical operations, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization,
disaster psychology, and responding to acts of terrorism. The Feb. 8 class
concludes with a course review and disaster simulation.

Why spend two full days on this kind of training?

“This is a great opportunity for Mountain residents to learn about taking care
of themselves, their families, and neighbors in a disaster situation, or even
when there isn’t a widespread disaster,” said Cris Crislip, a retired firefighter
and paramedic who is HEART’s co-executive director, training. “With CERT
first-aid and fire-suppression training, HEART members will know what to do
before firefighters and paramedics arrive, and that knowledge can help you
save lives at home, after a car accident, or where you work.”

The two classes will be taught by experienced instructors from the Polk
County CERT, which is affiliated with the Independence Police Department.

Attendees should wear comfortable clothes and shoes appropriate for wearing
out of doors in any weather. The Church on The Mountain is at 68211 E Hwy
26, Welches. For more information, e-mail CERT@hoodlandfire.org or call
503-622- 3256.

Lunch will be provided.