Brick Township Receives Emergency Utility Trailer From State

Earlier this week, the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management supplied Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in 15 municipalities statewide with specialized Disaster Response and Flood Response Utility Trailers, one of which is Brick Township. 

According to state officials, the trailers will “enhance the communities’ emergency response capabilities during times of crisis, and assist first responders during flooding events,” pointing to the fact that riverine flooding is the most frequent hazard faced by New Jersey residents. The state cited just under 1,200 flood events in the past 15 years, and 16 flood-related Presidential Disaster Declarations within the same time period to support their use of the trailers.

“New Jersey is proud to be home to one of the nation’s largest CERT programs — 19,000 volunteers organized into 432 teams,” explained Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent and Director of the NJ Office of Emergency Management. 

“The program is robust because of citizen engagement, neighbor helping neighbor, a New Jersey tradition. We will continue to support our volunteers’ efforts by equipping them with resources, such as the Disaster Response and Flood Response Utility Trailers. Fifteen communities are receiving equipment today, but it’s also a time to thank and recognize all CERT volunteers who serve others selflessly during adverse conditions,” Fuentes said on Wednesday.

The Disaster Response Utility Trailer that Brick received is worth $9,830.00. The trailer is equipped with a generator, basic medical supplies, lighting equipment, tools, tents and evacuation support equipment. Both these and the Flood Response Trailers are funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Wednesday’s deployment brings the total number of CERT Utility Trailers allocated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management to 100. 

For more information regarding communities receiving CERT trailers, please feel free to read the state Office of Emergency Management website.