Joseph Chiarenza(CERT), Bill Marr(Red Cross DAT), Ana Santos(CERT), and Freddie Espinal(CERT) unload cots into the Red Cross Emergency Shelter.

Slowly, the group has been building in size, training, and community involvement. Over the two years CERT has been building a relationship with the Merrimack Valley Red Cross.

May 14th’s rainfall and subsequent flooding put CERT members into action. CERT’s first official activation came at 3:25pm on May 14th. CERT was requested by Chief Takvorian to pick up cots at the Methuen Central Fire Station and bring the cots to the Red Cross Emergency Shelter at the Methuen High Field House. In 40 minutes there was 7 CERT team members ready to go. Within 2 hours from the initial call all the cots where unloaded and brought into the emergency shelter.

A second call for assistance came from the Merrimack Valley Red Cross. The Red Cross decided due to expected amount of displaced residents to open three regional shelters, one in Lowell, Methuen, and Salem NH. This stretched their resources considerably. The Red Cross requested for CERT to help man the Methuen Emergency Shelter.

CERT members accrued over 400 hours of service time in the shelter. Many worked from 30 to 50 hours while some still had to work their regular jobs. Having no previous shelter training the CERT members worked hard to learn from the Red Cross Volunteers all they could as quickly as they could. The experience was exhausting for the members but one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives.

The Merrimack Valley Red Cross volunteers as well and national Red Cross volunteers has applauded Lawrence’s CERT for a job well done and making a big differences in a very stressful time. One of the Red Cross volunteers took information about Lawrence’s CERT to bring to his local fire chief. He hopes to start up a CERT organization in his home town in western Mass. Of course, Lawrence CERT is will be there to give him any information or help he may need.

Even the clients remember the men and women in green shirts and CERT logo. A few clients request applications for CERT so next time there is a disaster they will be able to help as well. Upon returning Tuesday night for a farewell dinner at the shelter, Joseph Chiarenza was welcomed by many of the children whom he had helped take toys out of the packages for them to play with.

The CERT members met many of the Methuen and Lawrence City Officials and Councillers over the weeks. They where also introduced to Senators and Joseph Chiarenza even had his photograph taken with Governor Mitt Romney.

On June 1st, the Lawrence CERT will be hosting the first regional meeting for all local CERT organizations. It will be held at the Central Fire Station on Lowell St in Lawrence at 7:00pm. A representative from MEMA will be there as well.

Lawrence CERT will also be running a first aid tent and roaming patrols at the upcoming Semana Hispana Festival on June 16th to the 18th. As well as running a first aid tent at the Civil War Memorial Weekend September 23rd and 24th.

Being a volunteer organization with funding by donations, Lawrence CERT will be having an appreciation dinner on Sept 9th at the Lawrence Knights of Columbus to thank organizations and individuals who have donated to CERT and to raise money for training and stocking of an emergency vehicle they received from Patriot Ambulance. Tickets will be $30.

If you wish to learn more about how to prepare your home, how to become a CERT, or have CERT do a CPR/AED Demo for your organization, you can contact the Lawrence Community Emergency Response Team at 978-618-4744 or cert_law_mass@msn.com. CERT is also looking for more bilingual speaking people to join. Their website is www.lawrencecert.org. Which is still under construction and are looking for help to develop it.