Staff photo - John Kelley CERT members assess the injuries of "victims" of Saturday's training drill scenario

Amidst the runners participating in the June 16 Siege Yargo TrailBlazer Race at Fort Yargo State Park, the newest graduates of the Barrow County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class responded to a "disaster."

After many weeks of training, every participant from the class put their new skills to the test.

"We did a simulated tornado drill," said Capt. Mark Melvin of Barrow County Fire & Emergency Services. "The class handles the entire scenario and performed very well. Afterwards, the group came together and discussed what they did right and where they could improve."

The disaster this class was presented had eight patients needing various treatments. The patients also had to be transported from the woods.

In addition, there was a fire for the team to extinguish and many other surprises lined up.

Under Incident Commander Davis Wallace, each member participating put all of their skills to the test. Other members of the class participating included Jim Boykin, Cheryl Kirkland, Bill Phiel, Rebecca Wood, Brenda Smith, Preston Hollings and Dennis and Fe Hevener.

Current members of CERT assisting in the drill were Dave Mueller, Teresa Peacock, Laura Clark, Mary Bryan, Cal Neff, Amanda Blackstock, Richard Thomford, Julian and Miriam Spence, Adul Keomathathai, Patsy Blessing and Bob Richardson.

Class members missing the drill were Pete Black, Beverly Reuter and Yao Xiong.

The CERT program teaches citizens ways to prepare for disasters and what they can do if a disaster hits Barrow County. Under the guidance of Barrow County Fire & Emergency Services, all students are taught different skills such as fire control, search and rescue and some medical treatments. This program has continually grown since the first class and has seen a lot of growth this year.

"Barrow County has really come through for the CERT program this year. Commissioners and Chairman [Doug] Garrison along with County Manager Keith Lee, Purchasing Director Bob Hohe and Interim Fire Chief Jimmy Terrell have all been very supportive of the CERT program," said CERT President Bob Richardson.

"All of the members of Barrow County Fire & Emergency Services have been great; however, Capt. Mark Melvin, Lt. Scott Dakin and Lt. Ernest Weant and all the members of B-Shift have been the heroes of the CERT program," said Richardson. "They are the main reason CERT exists in Barrow County."

The CERT program also received a Georgia Emergency Management grant this year to provide for purchase of emergency response backpacks for every member of the team as well as a fire extinguisher training system that has been ordered.

"There has also been exceptional support of the team by local businesses. Through the support of the following businesses the drill also included some extra comfort items for the volunteers and a meal for all who attended," said Richardson.

"These businesses include The Peoples Bank, Richard Harmon and Edy's Ice Cream, John Day and Wal-Mart and Georgia Power," said Richardson. "Their generosity helped to make the disaster drill a huge success."

Lt. Dakin said, "Barrow County Fire & Emergency Services also want to extend a thank you to Chief Deputy Murray Kogod and Barrow County Sheriff's Office for their support. In fact several of the 'tornado victims' were members of the Sheriff's Explorer Post."

"This is one of the great things about Barrow County," said Melvin. "When you have a great program such as CERT, everybody comes together to make the program work and make it the best it can be."

Originally published Wednesday, June 20, 2007