Garden City Emergency Preparedness

Anita Weston, Reporter

Rich Civic Times

  

GARDEN CITY, Utah.  September 14, 2017. Mike Weibel, Director of the CERT/MRC Emergency Preparedness Program for Cache, Box Elder, and Rich County, reported that he felt a lot had been accomplished this past summer in the Garden City Area.  The meetings held are the beginning of building a great medical reserve team for this area.  It has been difficult to find people who are really interested in obtaining the needed training necessary for this medical reserve team. 

There were four workshops held this past summer.  Post cards were sent to local and summer people to make them aware of the information being presented and to promote the CERT/MRC program.  The workshops covered items such as water storage, safety, and so forth.  Thirty individuals attended, mostly from Garden City.  There were a few from Laketown.

Weibel was pleased that people were interested and seemed to enjoy the workshops.  Weibel wants to have these people continue to gain additional information so that they can get the necessary equipment to begin forming the medical reserve team.  There is money enough to buy 20 sets of equipment—vests, helmets, gloves, etc.-- that are needed for recognition as well as protection.

There is a need for 8 to 12 lay people for every one medical person.  The medical response team will be most helpful in this area.  The medical response team would work under a medical team and the health department.  Fire Chief Wahlberg has been coordinating the summer workshops.  The CERT program is recognized by the state, and it can join with the Bear River Health to add even greater support.  Getting locals involved is important. 

Because of the success this past summer, Mr. Weibel would like to continue with the workshops this coming summer.  The instructors for the workshops have volunteered their participation. In emergency preparedness, the more people who know preparedness information, the better off the community will be.  Both church wards are needed to coordinate and help in carrying the program forward.