Community Emergency Responders Gather for Training in Parsippany

Representatives from Community Emergency Response Teams from across Morris County took part in at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy in Parsippany Saturday morning.

The event, organized in part by Par-Troy CERT volunteers, offered participants training in wilderness search and rescue, fire safety, traffic safety and Salvation Army food canteen operations.

The CERT program allows citizen volunteers to train and be prepared for instances of natural disasters or terrorist attacks. CERT members assist victims and first respnders during emergency situations.

Jeffrey Paul, director of the Morris County Office of Emergency Management, said CERT members are all about serving the public.

"These are people who are not looking for government handouts but rather looking to serve their communities and help their neighbors during a time of need," he said. "Today is all about volunteering and serving. It does not get much better.

"This is a great day."

More than 100 CERT members from Parsippany, Kinnelon, Jefferson Township, Morris Township, Chatham Borough, Denville, Roxbury, Long Hill Township, Washington Township, Chatham Township and East Hanover awere on hand for the event, along with representatives of the County Animal Response Team, Medical Reserves Corp., American Red Cross, Radio Amateur Civilian Emergency Service and New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management.

Anyone interested in becoming a CERT member in Parsippany can get more information via the group's website contact page.