BERT 2nd Qtr 2008 Training Drill

On a quarterly basis BERT volunteers meet for continuing training. In our Second Quarter Training we drill on Search and Rescue.

On behalf of the City of Benicia and the Benicia Fire Department we would like to welcome you to the Benicia Emergency Response Team (BERT) training. BERT is based on a simple observation: in major emergencies, professional emergency services are overloaded immediately. If a mass emergency traps or injures just 2% of our city's inhabitants, there are instantly 560 victims, many with major injuries. Communication lines, roads, electricity and other services may fail, hampering emergency services, and interfering with fuel and material supplies. The benefit of having trained volunteers to assist our local first responders is quite clear.

The B.E.R.T. Program

The BERT Program educates people 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 exercises, BERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. BERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.