Storm damage in Cedar Rapids. Photo courtesy of Cat Nelson.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) have been helping with derecho clean up and recovery for the past month, and Washington County is building their CERT team up. CERT is another group of trained volunteers who can assist, in addition to traditional law enforcement, fire departments, and ambulance services. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen explains how a team can help during the recovery process, “CERT is a great tool to have especially in rural communities when your first responders are overwhelmed. They’re people that can go out and help in their neighborhoods. Even if they’re not activated as a team, they still have skills that are very worthwhile that can help out just in their own neighborhood or in their own household. So, that they know what they should do in the aftermath of a disaster and how best to go about doing it.”

She said in Cedar Rapids they’ve helped with clearing debris and branches after the storm, as well as handing out ice, water, and food to those in need. The tasks can vary. CERT can also help lead other volunteers with recovery tasks after an emergency.

People interested in joining the existing Washington County CERT should contact Reisen at the Washington County Emergency Management office. She says another round of training will be set up when it is feasible to do so.