33 complete C.E.R.T. training in Lakewood

Lakewood's Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) membership swells by 33, as volunteers complete six weeks of rigid training.

This week's graduation brings the Lakewood C.E.R.T. complement to 120 members, according to spokesperson Fran Kirschner. Each was given a framed diploma, identification card and their oaths of office, administered by Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy.

C.E.R.T.s already exist in most communities, and any can form one. Volunteers take a wide range of support roles for police, fire, and municipal departments.

Among the many functions they might be called to conduct are triage, search and recovery, traffic control, HAZMAT situations, evacuationss, sheltering of displaced persons, initial damage assessments, missing-person searches, first aid at large events, and storm preparation.

Township Police Chief Rob Lawson acknowledged the enlistees' community commitment, at the sacrifice of time from families and businesses.

"We have used C.E.R.T. teams in the past when we've had emergencies and our services were overwhelmed," Lawson said.

"For example, during Hurricane Sandy, we had C.E.R.T. teams doing traffic control at intersections where the lights were out. We've used C.E.R.T. teams for traffic control at large events, and they've been a tremendous resource for us."

In Lakewood, Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein serves as the governing body's liaison to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Rabbi Israel Bursztyn is the OEM Deputy Coordinator.

In the photo, left to right, are Committeeman Lichtenstein, Lakewood PD Captain Tom Langenberger, Committeeman Mike D'Elia, State Senator Robert Singer; ChiefLawson, Sergeant. Frank Work, Retired NJ State Trooper Howie Butt, Sheriff Mastronardy, and Brick Township EMS members.