Page 16 - North Haven Magazine Issue 22 Winter 2022

Lou Coppola, John Marinuzzi,
Steve Inzero & Michelle Kenniston
CERT North Haven’s Community
by Marisa Hexter

Emergency Response Team

Once in our lives, we will have all been in an emergency. It might involve our family, neighbors, or community. It can be in many different forms
as well; weather-related, first aid, or fire. But what matters in an emergency is how you react to it and how you help the situation. Sometimes our
instincts kick in, sometimes a trained individual can take charge and help in managing the situation. Since 2017, the North Haven Community
Emergency Response Team (also known as CERT), has provided free training courses to the community and also has over 50 active members
who are able to provide assistance to the town during emergency response measures.
n North Haven, CERT is under the direction of the Fire Department, move the line along in a timely manner. They dealt with three cars at
Iwith Fire Chief Januszewski as the Emergency Management a time, a volunteer on each side of the car. On the driver’s side, test
Director. CERT Manager, Lou Coppola spoke with me kits were handed out, and the passenger’s side was given the
about the role of the organization in North Haven. “The masks. For the 3 1/2 hours they were open, hundreds of
premise is of service to help teach people how to help cars went through, creating a queue at one point all the
themselves with their family,” he says; putting the way to the intersection of Maple Avenue and Route
focus on teaching people a basic knowledge of 22. “It was literally non-stop.” But it was a great
their homes. To do this, they offer free classes success too. Everyone who was in line for a test kit
open to the public twice a year. These eight received one, as there was only a set amount each
week, 2 1/2 hour classes, which are regulated town was given.
through FEMA, cover certain topics involving
emergency response, first aid, and more. While CERT is getting ready for another busy season.
the classes train and educate, those who take the A new class is being held in March, and they
course have another opportunity. “You can take will be at many town events like the Concerts on
the class and take all that information, and use the Green with their ERV, Emergency Response
that to help your family, your neighbors, and your Vehicle, which is equipped as a mobile rehab center
community; or you have the option to be sworn in for firefighters.
and actually become a member of the CERT team.” By
becoming a member of CERT, you have a couple of options North Haven’s CERT team has proven to be a multi-faceted
as well. You can be on the emergency response list, to be called in and vital part of the community since 2017. Their goal is to help
to assist professional emergency responders during events such as educate people to be prepared in emergencies of all kinds. When
structure fires or other larger-scale events. CERT also participates in people are prepared, their community will then be prepared. CERT
community service events throughout the year, like the Concerts on has and continues to give back to the North Haven community
the Green during the summer. You can find members of CERT at their whether it’s helping firefighters at a structure fire helping distribute
booth and educate the community about what they do in town. As masks and test kits to the community, or teaching the public about fire
active CERT members, they communicate through an app designed safety. We thank them for their help to keep our community and town
by the organization. safe and educated.

CERT proved to play a vital role in helping the community during
the long-term crisis of the pandemic. They were still able to provide
their classes to the public, “we were fortunate enough where we fell
into waves where COVID’s numbers were down,” says Coppola. In
2021, CERT worked with the National Guard to help distribute PPE
for emergency personnel. “North Haven was chosen to be a hub for
Region 2.” This involved the 20 surrounding towns including North
Haven. The National Guard received a trailer full of PPE and supplies
and Coppola says CERT, “...would help as the towns arrive.” The town
personnel from the surrounding towns came to North Haven to
get their equipment which in turn would allow them to go back to
their respective communities and distribute the PPE and help their
emergency personnel. Recently in January, CERT also helped with For more information on CERT please contact Lou Coppola at
the distribution of masks and test kits to town residents. About 20- [email protected] or at 203-627-2553.
25 CERT members volunteered for the mass distribution, which took
place at the North Haven Middle School. This event turned out to be I am very thankful and very grateful for the assistance of the CERT
a great success after Coppola and his team was able to figure out an team in keeping so many of my events safe. The latest being Winter
efficient strategy to both help everyone get the items they needed and Wonderland. Jill DeChello, Editor

North Haven Magazine - Winter Issue 2022
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