City offers disaster training to help you be prepared

After a tornado or other disaster like this one in Springfield, it’s often neighbors helping neighbors who are the first to respond. The city is offering a disaster-training course for those who want to be prepared. Photo used under a Creative Commons agreement courtesy Ben-Nelson.

Given the recent round of tornados in the midwest, it’s not a bad idea for individuals ro neighborhoods to revisit their disaster planning.

The city is offering a free Community Emergency Response Training for individuals ages 18 and older who live or work in Kansas City.

Community Emergency Response Training is designed to help individuals prepare themselves and assist family members and neighbors in the immediate aftermath of a major emergency.

“Once a disaster strikes, it’s too late to begin preparing, and this training helps residents learn basic skills now before the next emergency,” according to training coordinator Jennifer Fales said in a press release.

Participants will learn how to prepare a family disaster plan and emergency kit; manage utilities and put out small fires; provide basic medical aid; conduct a light search and rescue; organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective; identify and address disaster psychology issues; and more. The classes emphasize hands-on practice and conclude with a full functional exercise.

The Office of Emergency Management will partner with the Fire Department, Police Department, Health Department and Missouri Gas Energy to provide experienced responders as instructors and exercise controllers for this training.

Details

• The training will take place the last three Saturdays of June – June 15, June 22 and June 29 – from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the City’s Emergency Operations Center, 635 Woodland Ave.
• Individuals interested in this training must register to participate by contacting Jennifer Fales, training coordinator, at 816-513-8602 or jennifer.fales@kcmo.org.
• Please register early, as seating is limited. Participants must attend all three classes to receive Community Emergency Response Training certification.
• More information about Community Emergency Response Training