From the top
Hello,
An unfamiliar, invisible threat like our current coronavirus situation can be very unsettling. As trained CERT members, we are aware that a person’s emotional well-being affects their physical well-being. How are
you doing? Do you need to reach out to a nieghbor for help? Feel free to pick up the phone. We have many neighbors willing to help neighbors.
What is LWR CERT Doing?
Our website has a special page devoted to links and information about the current emergency:
www.lwrcert.org/coronoavirus. Our Facebook page, “
LWRCERT" is being monitored and updated.
We value the health and safety of all LWR CERT volunteers and our community, so we have canceled all in-person meetings until further notice. We are using teleconferences and electronic technology to continue to do LWR CERT’s work remotely.
Manatee County has activated the Emergency Operations Center for this emergency. They have created an Incident Command Structure (just like our FEMA training), and they are publishing daily updates that LWR CERT leaders receive and are monitoring.
To support our neighbors in need, LWR CERT has donated masks, gloves and hand sanitizer from our warehouse supply to the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center.
What can you do in these times?
- Protect yourself: CERT is all about helping others while keeping yourself safe. The President’s Guidelines for America was posted on our Facebook page on March 16.
- Be a role model: wash your hands regularly and cover coughs and sneezes. Practice social distancing.
- Steward resources: stock up to stay home until the end of April, but don’t hoard unnecessarily.
- Look out for the most vulnerable: you may know of vulnerable people in your neighborhood. As an individual neighbor, phone them to see how they are doing and what help they might need.
- Help with meals and support: There are many residents on Nextdoor.com who have posted that they are willing to help too. Check out the Help Map on Nextdoor.com if you need assistance or if you are willing to individually help your neighbors.
- Viruses don’t discriminate: Everybody who was infected was attacked. We’re all in this together. We’ll get through this by helping each other.
What do you do with your time now?
As of Friday morning, Florida will be under a "Safer At Home" order by Governor DeSantis until April 30. Since you will be staying home, you might have a little time for some good projects. Consider revisiting your family emergency plan. Hurricane season is only a few months away.
LWR CERT doesn’t plan to activate for this pandemic; however, I am sure that we will hear many stories about individual volunteer efforts by our members. Why? Because that’s what CERTs do. Thank you to all the LWR CERT members for all you do for CERT and our community. Stay healthy.
Jim Emanuelson
850.396.2695
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Congratulations to our newest Board member!
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Congratulations to
John Rocco (left), who was elected as our newest Board Member at the March 9 Board of Directors meeting. The photo, taken before it became taboo to shake hands, shows President
Jim Emanuelson (right) presenting John with his name plate. John's term runs through December 31, 2022. John completed Basic Training in October 2019, presented at our first Hurricane Preparedness session of 2020 and is a member of Team 25. Welcome to the Board, John!
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LWR CERT represented at LWR 101
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One of the last events LWR CERT participated in before the coronavirus shutdown was Lakewood Ranch 101 on March 13 for new LWR residents.
Kim Wright (left) presented a short introduction to LWR CERT to the attendees, who were invited to stop by the LWR CERT table staffed by
Diane Anderson and
Rich Raymond (not pictured) to learn even more. Thanks to Rich Raymond for the photos.
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Happy April birthday to members
Mary Benfer, Valerie Brock, David Cashbaugh, Phil Johnson, Sam Mallis, Rick Ortiz, Walter Sikorsky, Greg Stratakes, Robert Thompson,
and
Tony Vertuca.
Congratulations to new grandparents
Deb and Don Diven.
Get well and speedy recovery wishes to
Stan Schuer
and all our members and their loved ones who are ill and recovering.
A big LWR CERT thank you to
Pat Knowles, Mel Davis, Rich Raymond, Tim Sherer, Jan Kuhn, Gordon Kuhn, Karen Lemley,
and
Larry Lemley
who attended the Manatee County Hurricane Prep Expo on March 5 at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, representing LWR CERT.
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Team Kit Pick Up will be May 30 from 9 - 10:30 AM
Team Captains are encouraged to mark their calendars now and to ensure that they or someone else on their team is available to pick up their team kit.
Saturday, May 30 is the weekend after Memorial Day and is just ahead of the June 1 start of Hurricane Season.
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Happy Easter circa 2012. Do you recognize any of these LWR CERT members?
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Upcoming LWR CERT Meetings and Training
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Board Meeting - Video Call -
Monday, April 13 at 7 PM
Radio Communications Committee - Video Call
- Wednesday, April 15 at 7 PM
2020 Hurricane Simulation Exercise
- Saturday, May 16
Team Kit Distribution/Pick Up
- Saturday, May 30 from 9 - 10:30 AM
CANCELED - Behind the Scenes Tour of the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center -
Tuesday, April 21
CANCELED: PUBLIC Session: Pet Emergencies and Preparation
- Saturday, April 25
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2020 LWR CERT Executive Committee
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Click the Facebook logo and like our Facebook page
to stay on top of LWR CERT news
and the latest severe weather updates
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