| The Green River CERT unit was on display. |
The Green River Citizen Corps Council/Local Emergency Preparedness Council hosted the third annual Emergency Preparedness Fair on Oct. 9. There were three fairs held in the local area, the Carbon County Fair was held in Price Oct. 7, the Emery County Fair was held at the Spartan Center Oct. 8, and Green River’s was held Oct. 9 at the John Wesley Powell Museum. Having them together was planned to accommodate the many presenters from all over the state.
Green River started out with skits about emergency preparedness by the Girls Scout and Boy Scout Troops. These Scouts did an exceptional job. Then a more serious time when Karen Smith City of Green River Emergency Program Manager gave a Neighborhood Watch update and a short presentation on Citizen Corps Council. Lennie Nord (volunteer firefighter) explained siren meanings here in Green River, and Mayor Glen Dale Johnson spoke about the importance of every citizen being prepared for an emergency. Mel Ray, P.A. then explained the games that were planned for children of all ages and everyone went outside to let the games begin, followed by lunch and an afternoon of collecting information from the booths waiting to give demonstrations on emergency preparedness.
Gary and Linda Fluckey were in the theater with 72 hours kits. They demonstrated many different items that are available to have on hand when an emergency arises. Orders were taken and kits will be assembled for Green River citizens. What a great service they are providing for the community.
| These remote control robots used in retrieving explosives. |
Downstairs there was an excellent presentation on terrorism. The explosives demonstrator educated the audience about how easy it is for the wrong people to make bombs, and the Green River EMTs were giving basic first aid and CPR demonstrations. These professionals made it easy to understand the importance of being aware and trained in case we are a first responder, observe someone acting suspicious, or someone with certain items that could make a bomb when put together.
Outside in the museum parking lot there was information on green houses, Allen Clark demonstrated Dutch oven cooking, Martin Wilson and crew had the Carbon/Emery County Hazmat Truck and information about CERT (Community Emergency Response Team), Neighborhood Watch, and Public Health Safety. Utah County’s HazMat trailer presented a demonstration concerning explosives.
Their robots, which are used in retrieving explosive materials, were on display.
The officers answered questions and provided educational materials to help educate parents and children about how to avoid injury from explosives.
Utah State Department of Emergency Services CERT trainer Mathew Hurtes was on hand with a great display on CERT. He and his partner Dana demonstrated the proper use of a fire extinguisher and answered questions about what CERT is all about.
| A doll is used to demonstrate the decontamination unit. |
Green River started CERT training Nov. 3, at 5 p.m. at City Hall. Contact Karen Smith 564-3448 or Tamara Ekker 564-8221 to sign up.
Green River’s own Decontamination Trailer was on display. The Green River Medical Center and Green River Volunteer Fire Department put it together. Lesa Weihing and Mary Winters have received training to operate it in the event we have a contamination or hazardous materials emergency.
The committee wants everyone who helped put this important event together how much their efforts are appreciated.
Special appreciation to Sonya Ray Emergency Preparedness Fair Chair who worked endless hours organizing and making sure everything went well.