A group of about 20 Islanders eager to participate in eleven weeks of Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) wants to expand the size of the group to 30 or 40 or more in order to qualify for on-Island sessions.

The training is done by the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) one night a week in sessions running two to three hours. Island sessions will start the week of March 6 (specific evening to be determined).

Rivercross resident Vicki Feinmel is collecting names. To express interest and receive notification about program specifics, call her at 212-223-1108 by Friday, February 17. The training is free and open only to those 18 and over. Participants get a free emergency "go-bag" upon completion of the course.

The CERT concept originated in Los Angeles. It recognizes that in a catastrophic disaster, citizens may be on their own for a time while waiting for help, and need to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) took the program nationwide.

Participants in the program incur no obligation in terms of emergency response, but learn emergency coordination procedures, some basic triage, basic first aid, and how to communicate with responding agencies in emergency situations. Participants are subjected to a background check.

The program includes an annual refresher course, and missed sessions can be made up at the end of the course.