National Fire Prevention Week is next week. All CERT members receive training on how to use a fire extinguisher; we put out a fire with a fire extinguisher during our Basic Training class. Preventing a fire is even better than knowing how to extinguish a fire. To learn how you can prevent fires in your home, click here.

LWR CERT and our members have served Lakewood Ranch and our community since 2006.

A special committee is forming to plan our 15th anniversary festivities, slated to begin in fall 2021 for what we hope will be a post-coronavirus, year-long celebration.

After record attendance at our first-ever virtual member meeting and skills refresher session, we're pleased to announce a number of additional members have earned their 2020 Active Responder designation. Tier 1 recipients will receive a removable car sticker, and Tier 2 recipients will receive a cooling towel.

Awards will be distributed by team captains shortly.

The next member meeting of the year, set for Nov. 12, will be the last opportunity for members to earn the 2020 Active Responder designation and awards.

Congratulations to the our newest 2020 Active Responder award winners below.

WOW! The first ever LWR CERT virtual member meeting was a tremendous success! It was a 2020 Active Responder qualifying event. Thanks to Rich Raymond for sharing some of the screen shots above.

More than 60 members joined in the video call, which began with an update from Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer. Steve reminded the group that emergency shelters should be the refugee of last resort. Due to coronavirus restrictions, shelters will be open at less than 35% capacity, and officials cannot guarantee shelters to be virus safe.

LWR President Jim Emanuelson discussed activation changes and readiness conditions. Details below. He also reminded members that surgical masks and face shields have been added to all team kits for use during activation. Additional member activation information is available in the Members section of our website.

LWR CERT's Vice President Jan Kuhn, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience working with disaster survivors, shared insights on some of the psychological impacts the pandemic is having on us all. She presented practical tips and coping strategies which were well received by the audience.

We received so many emails expressing members' thanks for the useful information, Jan agreed to turn her presentation into a print document for you to view online or to print and share with your family and friends. Click Jan's picture on the left or the button below to access the .pdf version of How to Harness Resilience during the Pandemic.

More than 60 members attended the fist-ever virtual Skills Refresher Saturday, Sept. 26. Those who joined early were treated to a preview of the questions that will be part of the new Basic Training final exam for new members.

Presenters Nigel Pilling and Pat Knowles filled the 90-minute session with information ranging from first aid refreshers to updates on the LWR CERT website, particularly the member section, and YouTube channel. Brenda Nusbaum moderated the session, forwarding member questions to the presenters.

Attendees learned LWR CERT has purchased a manikin for use in practicing head tilt-chin thrust maneuvers as well as cold packs, surgical masks and face shields for each team kit. Pat reviewed when and how to use a tourniquet as well as how to treat burns.

Members of LWR CERT know the importance of being prepared. This year, LWR CERT has adopted 6 readiness conditions to indicate the activation level of our organization. The current readiness condition is displayed at the top of our website, lwrcert.org.

Even if a storm has downgraded to a tropical storm and is not anticipated to create extensive damage to our area, once LWR CERT has announced Readiness Condition 1 (Activate), the organization intends to Activate. So, members who have indicated their ability to activate for that storm are encouraged to activate when it is safe to do so. The radio hubs and Incident Commander will stand up. Group Leaders will turn on their radios and proceed to their designated assembly areas. Individual members will turn on their walkie talkies and report to their Group Leaders. Even if damage is minimal, group reports will still be passed to Manatee County officials through the radio system and hubs.

Irma came through LWR as a tropical storm, and she still created a mess of our streets. The County 911 system became overloaded. LWR CERT can communicate damage assessment of each LWR zone to the County and will be positioned to provide emergency communication for our neighbors, should it be needed.

Several teams have created "pre-damage" video assessments of their zones using dash cams to drive the streets in their areas. These videos can also be made using drones with cameras, go-pros attached to bikes or even cell phone videos.

Members and Team Captains are helping their teams create this important "pre-damage" assessment, which could prove useful for insurance and emergency funding reimbursements should a storm come through our area.

Happy October birthday to members Janis Ballard, Ken Bertram, Jerry Buhr, Kathy Combs, Kay Culliton, Nick Frederick, Stan Jernigan, Abdiel Lorente, Mark Marcus, Brenda Nusbaum, Pat Poyle, Mike Resetarits, Art Taber and Connie Thompkins.

Deb Diven, Jan Kuhn and Valerie Stafford-Mallis were appointed to the 2021 Board Nominating Committee. By Oct. 22, all members will receive an email about the upcoming LWR CERT Board election which will be held during the Nov. 12 Virtual Member Meeting. Watch your inbox for details.

Got an idea for a video topic we should add to the LWR CERT YouTube channel? Email Nigel Pilling.

Thank you to Tom Kofer for his service to the Radio Committee. Tom resigned as a radio hub but will continue to be a member of LWR CERT. The Radio Committee will contact impacted Team Captains and Group Leaders with Radio Hub re-assignment information.

Get well and thinking of you wishes to Janis Ballard, Diane Anderson, Connie Farmer, Karen Goodman, Larry Lemley and Tim Sherer.