Last week Sunday I completed the CERT training program. Realizing the importance of self-reliance and preparedness I took it upon myself to enroll in this course given by the City & County of Honolulu and federally funded by the government. This program educates people about disaster preparedness hazards and trains you in the basic disaster response skills. As a CERT member you are able to assist others in your neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
The program is offered free to anyone and everyone and I have suggested to many people here to enroll in this very important course. It is also an excellent course to take with the entire family. On the last day our class reported to Diamond head crater for the exercises. The building there I believe was world war II bunkers, to be more specific it was the Battery Harlow Complex. Very nostalgic, a bit creepy yet it gave you a sense of a time long ago when we were at war, a different kind of war. Overall, I really thought it was cool. This particular area was off limits to the public and it was gated and locked, we had to travel in about a quarter mile. The link that I have provided above to the bunkers shows the area where we had our training exercises, little did I know they used this site in a movie.
Before starting our exercises we were each given a heavy duty backpack full of emergency supplies which we also used and got to keep as well, I was quite surprised and thankful because I was thinking we had to go out and purchase these from somewhere. I learned a great deal in the CERT program and it also provided me with some ideas of my own to incorporate it into helping and teaching others in becoming aware of disasters. Ideally, I would like to have my entire family enroll in this class and then hopefully my neighbors but for this I will have to approach my community board with the idea of preparedness which I believe is the best thing the board could ever do for it's community.
3Steps is a family and neighborhood emergency preparedness plan, it is a neighborhood organizing neighbors to help each other get prepared for any emergency, this program paves the way to build communities and bring people together for a common cause such as preparedness.
Utah is the front runner in this amazing program.
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What does anyone expect when the public does not have access to basic rights and information?
Do you have a moment to look over important disaster information? US President Obama did.
One of the most important factors in disaster preparedness/recovery is to be informed:
When the dust settles, who will carry the mantle for disaster survivors? This should help understanding: What do you expect in case of loss? Are You Disaster Ready (hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flood, fire, etc.)? http://www.disasterprepared.net
Thank you for your thought provoking comment. The issues that you present are of extreme importance. Being informed is of absolute importance regarding disaster preparedness indeed but moreso when it involves connecting factors such as insurance policyholders basics rights and information for the public.
I do agree with you that we do have a major problem on our hands regarding insurance companies and their practices. I also believe that the current Obamaministration must and should be concentrating on insurance company reform moreso than healthcare reform.
In the insurance arena we are all defenseless. From knowing and seeing how terrible these insurance company practices are I expect an even greater loss if nothing is done to regulate these crooks to better answer your question.
But with this in mind it's even scarier than thought. Also, educating oneself and being aware of your policy and what it entails as to all the hidden agendas and jargons is important in understanding what exactly your policy includes and or excludes.
It also helps to be aware of the many games these insurance companies play with their policy holders. But yes we all need some major help and reform in these areas.
It's awesome you got to attend. That's something that we should all go to.
Yep, I'm trying to get my friends, relatives and family members to attend this course before they decide to do away with it in the event there are lack of funds to continue this class for some odd reason.
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