On November 7, 2009, Colorado North Central Region Community Emergency Response Team volunteers and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office will be conducting a large scale disaster training exercise at Horizon Middle School. The exercise will simulate the aftermath of a massive snowstorm in the Denver Metropolitan area where, due to heavy accumulation of snow, there is widespread structural failure and collapse, resulting in numerous injuries. The disaster exercise will be facilitated and supported by a team of professional responders from within the North Central Region. The focal point of the exercise is to enhance the skill sets of local CERT and Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) volunteer members.

The CERT program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during simulations, CERT members can assist others in their community or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Blizzards can cause whiteout conditions, loss of utilities and heavy accumulation of snow on trees and roofs. Structural failure of buildings and deep snow can quickly overwhelmed the emergency response system and community emergency response volunteers and amateur radio operators will be expected to help during these types of disasters.

For more information please contact Jason Finehout, Public Information Officer, at 303-829-4966.