Busy hurricane season enforces need for community aid

The calendar turning to December signals a joyous time for many people, and that includes members of the Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team.

This was the first year in Lakewood Ranch CERT’s history in which the organization had to prepare for three hurricanes that had a significant impact on the area. Dec. 1 officially marked the end of what had become a long hurricane season.

CERT members celebrated the end of hurricane season Dec. 3 at Inner Compass Brewing Company with a happy hour. 

The members said the severity of the series of storms made it clear that there can never be enough help on hand, and never enough ways to connect the community to emergency assistance.

Jim Curran, director of Community Outreach for CERT, enjoyed a beer with his fellow team members at the happy hour, but he said his work for the 2025 hurricane season will begin soon after the holidays. 

Curran is heading an effort to increase Lakewood Ranch CERT’s involvement in the community in aspects beyond hurricane relief. The organization has expanded those outreach efforts in the past, like standing at mile markers with first aid supplies during running events and volunteering as victims at a Duette Fire Department event so the firemen could practice their response skills.

But Curran said he’s trying to dig Lakewood Ranch CERT’s roots deeper whether that be simply helping with food pantries, parades or other community events, so the network of aid can grow.

“It will allow people to join in our efforts and we can become a broader contributor,” he said. “So if somebody needs help for something, we might have an avenue to connect with them. We’re trying to broaden it more than just right in the aftermath of a hurricane or other natural disasters.”

This year’s storms especially drove home the point of Lakewood Ranch CERT’s need for a good relationship with the local community.

Though their services might fly under the radar when there aren’t storms impacting the area, Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton re-enforced how vital it is to spread the word about preparedness and safety ahead of time.

“We learned this year ... Oh my goodness,” Curran said. “You have to be ready.”

Lakewood Ranch CERT’s members aren’t professional paramedics or rescue teams, but they do have to undergo 20 hours of training that make them valuable during times of need.

That training includes first aid training, lifting techniques, how to detect gas leaks, and many other facets of disaster relief. 

“We have mannequins that we train with, we have bandage kits we teach people how to use, and we teach how to use tourniquets, which can save lives,” said Pat Knowles, a medical trainer with Lakewood Ranch CERT. 

Jim Emanuelson, the president of Lakewood Ranch CERT, said the organization led three CERT Basic Training Classes this past year, and many other public information events. 

Clinics were offered on topics such as pet emergency first aid, hurricane preparation, and new resident orientation.

During Hurricane Milton, members of CERT provided damage assessment information to a number of agencies and gave support to neighbors who might not have known where to get help.

One hundred and seventeen CERT volunteers were activated during Milton. Three road blockages were reported to the IDA, and two 311 calls were placed to support residents. One nonworking traffic signal was reported and a broken water line was reporter at a home.

Although it wasn't needed extensively, CERT's radio network worked perfectly at a time when many residents had no cell phone coverage.

Anyone who would like to join Lakewood Ranch CERT’s growing team of 230-some volunteers can do so at LWRCert.org under the ‘Join Our Team’ section. Those who sign up then take an upcoming basic training class.

“A lot of people in Lakewood Ranch feel like their houses are new enough that they don’t have to worry about it,” Lakewood Ranch CERT Board of Director member Jan Kuhn said. “But then they saw with the flooding from Debbie and the winds from Milton, we do need to have neighbors helping neighbors, and it was incredible.

“I was outside, manning my station, and I was seeing all the neighbors who wanted to help — but they’re not part of CERT yet — just going around and helping people, asking ‘What can I do to help you?’

"It was amazing."