Be Prepared: Yes, Even On Sunny Oahu

Hawaii’s ever-sunny paradise is just as prone to tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods as any island community and needs to be prepared.

To this end, Life Church hosts free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training this Sunday and June 22 and 29 for interested residents, at 355 N. Kainalu Drive.

The program runs from 2 to 9 p.m. each day.

Organized by the city Department of Emergency Management, CERT focuses on creating a volunteer corps that could respond quickly to a natural disaster and assist the community until official first responders make it to the scene.

CERT volunteers are trained in disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility controls, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue operations, organization and disaster psychology.

The course includes 14 in-class hours and six hours of field exercises. While dinner and snacks are provided, students must purchase a hard copy, or download a digital copy, of the assigned text.

When completed, participants can join the Kailua CERT Team, which meets on the third Tuesday of each month.

For more information or to register, call Leslie at 728-7991 or email lekali@hawaii.rr.com.