Brick Welcomes New Members to its Community Emergency Response Team

Brick Township officials presented two of the newest members of their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) with signed certificates of recognition, at their council meeting on Tuesday evening.

The ceremony was begun by Brick Township Police Chief Nils R. Bergquist, who explained that this was the fifth CERT class to be completed in Brick Township, and brought the total membership of the team to 45 members. Bergquist also provided some background history on the CERT concept itself.

“During his 2002 State of the Union address, President (George W.) Bush asked citizens to volunteer their services, in order to improve and safeguard the country,” said the chief. “In response to the spirit of cooperation that developed as a result of the tragic events of September 11, he created the Citizen Corps Program; organized volunteer services in the areas of crime, natural disasters and terrorism.”

Bergquist said that CERT functions as part of that Citizen Corps Program, and trains volunteers for disaster preparedness, fire safety, disaster medical operations, search and rescue team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism, CPR and a final simulation exercise.

“The team has supported this community in many ways over the past several years; they helped make each Summerfest safe and enjoyable; members assisted police communications during Hurricane Irene and snowstorms in previous years; last month, they assisted in the distribution of water to Atlantic County following severe weather there; the team handed out literature to the staff of the Ocean County Health Department’s H1N1 vaccination sites, they handled traffic control and assisted visitors at Ocean Medical Center’s Community Day; and last August, the team played a critical role in ‘Operation: Surf’s Up’, a joint exercise between Ocean Medical Center and local, county and state emergency service providers,” said Bergquist.

Bergquist thanked all those responsible for setting up the program, and invited Bob Koste and Nancy DiMatteo to come to the podium in the council chambers to receive their certificates of recognition. Fellow new CERT member John Cardillo was not present at the meeting.

At that time, Koste and DiMatteo posed for photographs while holding their certificates, along with Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis, Council President John Ducey and Chief Bergquist.

“As a formal congregation, the mayor and I have signed certificates in honor of their successful completion of the required training for the Brick Township Community Emergency Response Team,” said Ducey. “It’s a lot of work and time that they’re putting in, just in the training, and now, even more work and time with what they have to do to protect all of us. We thank you very much.”