Ranch CERT team mobilizes community

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Kay Marcus would have been someone to run away during a natural disaster.
But not anymore.

The Lakewood Ranch resident joined the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team, CERT, in October, after recognizing the need for disaster preparedness.

“In the case of a disaster, we cannot count on this hospital as a place to go,” Marcus said. “It will be full of transfers. There will be no beds and (we will) need to know how to take care of ourselves. That was a really important thing to know.”

Lakewood Ranch’s Community Emergency Response Team will host a FEMA Disaster Preparedness Training course 7 to 9 p.m. March 13, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall. The course continues 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 15, 7 to 9 p.m. March 20 and 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 22. Advanced registration is required for the free training.

“If you go through CERT, you learn basic first aid, search and rescue that enables you and CERT to help your neighbors (during a disaster),” said Victor Kline, vice president of Lakewood Ranch CERT.

Kline said the last hurricane to hit Manatee County struck in the early 1900s and leveled Anna Maria Island, making it difficult to convince East County residents of the need for disaster training.

However, Kline says if a hurricane were to hit Lakewood Ranch and surrounding communities, the decision to stay or leave should be made even before forecasters issue a hurricane watch.

“You and hundreds of thousands of other people are going to get out on the roads,” Kline said, noting gas stations likely will run out of gas and stores will run out of water as residents stockpile whatever goods they believe they will need to prepare for the storm.

Residents who choose to evacuate also should have a specific plan in place — where they will refuel and get food, their final destination and a list of supplies such as vaccination records for pets, medications, glasses, and other important items that could easily be forgotten.

“We cover this in the course so you can keep safe and keep your family safe,” Kline said.

Individuals who stay behind, he said, should know what to do should they lose power, suffer injuries or face other challenges following a hurricane, tornado or other disaster. Manatee County has only 16 ambulances, Kline noted, and emergency responders will focus on the areas with the greatest need first.

“Our individual residents and our CERT members need to be ready to hold the fort until emergency services are able to reach us,” Kline said.

For more information on the Lakewood Ranch CERT program or disaster preparedness, visit lwrcert.org.

If you go
What: FEMA Disaster Preparedness Training Course

When: 7 to 9 p.m. March, 13, at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Lakewood

Ranch. (Required followup courses are scheduled for March 15, March 20 and March 22).

Details: Course trains participants in emergency response, including first aid and search and rescue.

Cost: Free

Registration: Advanced registration required to [email protected]

Info: Lwrcert.org

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].