Bixby Community Emergency Response Team Activates for Flood Incident
Heavy rains have caused severe flooding across parts of the southern Plains in recent weeks, leaving many communities devastated and in need of assistance. In response to flooding in their community, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Bixby, Oklahoma sprang into action to help residents evacuate their homes.
To assist with the flooding, Bixby police asked CERT volunteers to put up barricades and help residents leave their neighborhoods. Bixby CERT has helped the local police and fire departments with previous events, but this was their biggest incident and first activation for a natural disaster.
According to Bixby CERT Assistant Program Manager, Laura Konshak, the team was in the field supporting the incident for 13 hours. They also train twice a month in first aid, search and rescue, and disaster response.
Created nearly two years ago, Bixby CERT has 30 volunteers who are always on call and ready to assist the community during an emergency. In fact, one volunteer left his honeymoon early so he could respond to the incident.
Learn more about Bixby CERT’s recent flood response efforts with this clip from FOX23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
CERT programs educate the public about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their community and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Looking for a CERT in your area? Be sure to check the listing of state programs.
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