We at TechCORE MSS hope that everyone is well especially those in areas of the recent “wild weather.”

September is 2021 National Preparedness Month, and local communities will be offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. CERT is a group of people organized as a neighborhood-based team that receives special training to enhance their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation. Teams are trained by professional responders in areas that will help the teams take care of themselves and others before, during, and after a major emergency. As an organized team, individuals can provide vital services in the absence of, or while waiting for, the arrival of emergency responders; they often also assist once responders arrive.

The hurricane season doesn’t end until as late as October/November, and so at this time, we are reminded of the precautions that we should all take and the emergency supplies that we should always have on hand.  Your emergency survival kit should have everything you and your family would need to be safe and take care of yourselves for at least three days immediately following an emergency (and don’t forget a kit for your pet).

Pro tip: Hurricanes and other extreme rain events can ironically impact the water supply. Be sure you have enough clean water to last a few days.

For our local community the following links provide information about CERT training:

• Arlington: https://emergency.arlingtonva.us/get-involved/cert/ (fall classes start September 8th)
• Alexandria: https://www.alexandriava.gov/CERT (fall classes September 9-October 23)
• Fairfax: https://fairfaxcountycert.org/ (also fall options)

To find a program in your area, you can search FEMA’s site at:
https://community.fema.gov/PreparednessCommunity/s/cert-find-a-program
In addition to emergency preparedness information, as part of our commitment to provide information and service to those in our community TechCORE MSS recently distributed backpacks and other “back to school” supplies to children in our area.

We want everyone to be safe, and protected not only from COVID, and we make every effort to offer information and an awareness of the precautions that we should all take and the supplies that we should always have on hand to always help to be prepared.

Quanetta
President and CEO
September 2021