Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1493439
CERT...continued from page 1 I wanted to help others," says Dawn. When asked about CERT's benefits, Dawn cites two roles that CERT serves. "The first is individual and family preparedness. I have lived in Bonny Doon for 50 years. My husband and I had to take care of ourselves and our children and animals through many emergencies and disasters. Knowing what to do and what to have and what to take when you evacuate makes a huge difference in your state of mind and recovery." Because of her CERT training, they were prepared when the CZU Lightning Complex Fire happened in 2020. "And even if all you do is prepare your house for a shelter in place, CERT education and training will help," she adds. "The second role is neighborhood and com- munity facing," explains Dawn. "Knowing basic medical care, search and rescue, disaster psychol- ogy and being able to help out in communi- ty-wide activations gives confidence, direction, and purpose as well as friends and connections." When Dawn's husband passed away last year, the connections she had made through CERT provided a great deal of support. Mary, Dawn, and other local CERT members have performed a lot of service in the last couple years. "We have been able to help out at evacuation centers, COVID-19 vacci- nation and testing centers and—most recently—the FEMA outreach, among other things," says Dawn. "CERT training says you help yourself and your family first." When Jan- uary's storms happened, she helped other family members who live in a flood zone. "Overall, the value of listening and empathizing and recognizing those in severe mental distress, taught in the Disaster Psy- chology unit, has turned out to be the most fre- quently used CERT train- ing," says Dawn. "Traffic control, which was not in the basic curriculum but taught in Santa Cruz as continuing education, is also used frequently." An example of how the local CERT helped during January's storms was fea- tured in CERT Auxiliary of Santa Cruz County's February email newslet- ter. The article's author, CERT team member Karen Corscadden (also an ARES / Amateur Radio Emergency Service mem- ber) states, "At the very northern edge of Santa Cruz County, off of High- way 1, is an area called Whitehouse Canyon. On Jan 2, 2023, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Of- fice (SO) determined that the single road leading into Whitehouse Canyon (Whitehouse Canyon Road) would likely wash out in the next storm. Fac- ing staffing limitations, SO asked for assistance from the Community Emergency Response Team to notify this area that they were being is- sued an evacuation order to begin at 5pm on Jan 3." Because CERT realized communications might be challenging during this situation, they reached out to ARES for commu- nications assistance. At the same time, they asked ARES if they had access to a vehicle that would be safe for this road. When ARES was told about the situation, they wanted to find out if any animals might need evacuation assistance, and reached out to Equine Evac, who confirmed there were animals in need. "CERT came up with a plan to get a vehicle into the area to deliver evacu- ation notices," wrote Kar- en. "Equine Evac came up with a plan to evacuate the livestock in the area… ARES came up with a communications plan to support both activities… In the end, a request for CERT support turned into a three-organization acti- vation with two different objectives that were both successfully executed on, delivering evacuation orders and livestock evac- uation. It is a testament to the great relationships that our volunteer Disaster Service Worker organiza- tions have with each other and our drive to do the job correctly, not just to do the minimum requested, that led to a very smooth, successful activation." Interested in becoming a local volunteer? To start, check out santacruzcoun- tycert.org/faq/ for answers to frequently asked questions. For example, if you're hesitant because of your age or physi- cal ability, be assured that—as Mary alluded to— there are many types of service. "Following a disaster, CERT members are needed for documen- tation, comforting others, logistics, etc.," the FAQ section explains. "Non-di- saster-related team activ- ities may include keeping databases, developing a website, writing a news- letter, planning activities, helping with special events and organizing exercises and activities." The next local CERT Basic Training Course occurs in Live Oak over three weekend days: Sat- urday March 18, Saturday March 25, and Sunday April 2. To sign up, go to signupgenius.com/go/ certbasic#/ and choose the tab at the top which says "In-person Mar- April 2023 class." During the class, attendees will learn—through lectures and hands-on practice— about topics including How CERT Operates, Disaster Medicine and Triage, Disaster Psychol- ogy, Disaster Prepared- ness, and Fire and Utility Safety. FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) is also a good resource. As an individu- al—especially if you are a senior living alone—it's important to have a plan in case of disaster. To help with this, FEMA has sev- eral easy-to-access lists and brochures online. Vis- it the site ready.gov/pub- lications for details. Here are some basic tips from the brochure Preparing Makes Sense: 1) Know Your Risk (particular to where you live, etc.), 2) Make a Plan (including assessing the specific needs of your household like medical needs), and 3) Take Action (gather supplies, secure important documents, understand your insurance coverage, etc.). This brochure also has information about how to download an app where you can receive real-time weather and emergency alerts, locate shelters, and send messag- es to family members. One tip that everyone can agree on: create an emergency supply kit. You can access more details and a full list at the site mentioned above, but some items to have on- hand are water, non-per- ishable food, cash, flash- light and extra batteries, prescription medications, dust mask to help filter contaminated air, sleep- ing bag, extra cell phone charger, and a whistle to signal for help. Hopefully, this article has illuminated a couple simple steps everyone can take in order to become more prepared, and simultaneously provided a glimpse into CERT for those interested in joining. For more information on CERT Visit santacruzcountyc- ert.org or email certauxil- iary@gmail.com Also see national website community.fema.gov/Pre- parednessCommunity/s/ about-cert Part of CERT training is fire safety including how to put out a fire- Contributed Photo First day of CERT training includes team-building exercise- Contributed Photo During CZU fires, CERT members helped with traffic control at Fairgrounds evacuation site- Contributed Photo Who Do You Want To Be? Find Out on the Dance Floor By Peggy Pollard, Santa Cruz Waltz & Swing www.Peggy- Dance.weebly.com Who are you? More importantly, who do you WANT to be? The dance floor is your safe sandbox to find out. Like mild mannered Clark Kent stepping into a nearby phone booth, dancers sneak into the ballroom, rip off their boring daytime persona, and reinvent themselves with every song and every dance partner. We are the perfect ones do it. Our generation had the Summer of Love, then the Free Speech Move- ment. Santa Cruz is the perfect place to do so. While oth- er cities have grown into high-tech San Franciscos, or neo-con Berkeleys, our wild and fruity Santa Cru- zans still pride ourselves as the identity reinvention capital of the world. Finding your alter ego in dance is not hard (so much easier than a career change). The easy thing about a dance persona is that it's so temporary — like a fake tattoo you can peel off anytime. In fact, as soon as you exit the dance hall--POOF!-- it disappears. Costumes are not re- quired, but can help. Sim- ply wearing an interesting hat can be enough: Big Fedora for Tango, French beret for Java (fake cigarette dangling from lips is a plus), or shoes, snazzy, two-tone shoes – BAM! -- you are a Spiffy Spats Spike a Lindy Dancer. A vest of any kind is good for a whole bunch of dances, particularly the recently popular Sea Shanties, transforming you into Wellerman Willie. And a name … you gotta have a dance name. Here's a few more: Wafting Wanda – Want to fly? Waltz like a breezy glider, an ephemeral snow storm swirling about the room, your gown of silvery gossamer swirling Swarovski crystals, spar- kling from your flowing mane. Tangential Tad -- Sharp and edgy Tango, you prowl in the dark of night, exploring the hidden un- derbelly of your predict- able daytime niceness. Fantastic Freddie Foxtrot—Most of the week, he's in the garage, a transmission mechanic in greasy-coveralls. So of course his alter ego is a polished Foxtrotter, sport- ing a dapper white jacket, pink carnation tucked in the breast pocket. Surfer Stomping Stella -- trades her sleek business suit for a rumpled Hotline t-shirt, board shorts and messy salt-encrusted hair to go wild with the Surf- er's Stomp. Viennese Rocket Man –He battens down the hatches to spin his partner into outer space. This was my quiet and gentle dance friend, Tom (who recently passed away RIP). Though half my height, I swear he grew three feet taller as we danced. With his great waltz technique he could spin us out of this world into heavenly bliss. Though his spirit has departed, he's left years of happy partner dancing memories in many dance partners' hearts. So, dear reader, now you must be like Tom and make more beautiful dance memo- ries. Argentine Ardith – Most know her extrovert side, filling all empty air with chatty banter, but in the dark corners of the ball- room, her alter ego with- draws into the stillness, filled only with Tango music. She shares with her partners a wordless, subtle connection, with the nod of a head, and the close, closer, closest of dance embraces, a single red in her pocket. Perhaps you're a city slicker, ready to become a Texas Tanya, Yeehaw Yolanda, Cowboy Cody, with Country 2-Step? Or if you're normally straightforward, a linear, one-thing-at-a-time type, test out the subtle flirta- tion, cat and mouse chase that you crave by becom- ing Cha-Cha Charlie. Attention-shy wallflow- ers can turn into Samba Sam -- with its sizzling bigger than life Carna- val dance, born from the street Parades of Rio de Janeiro's Mardi Gras. Feathered headdress and sequined thong costume not required, but a big, attention-getting parade attitude is. Uh oh, I've already run out of room here, with too many dance passions to mention and too little space: Salsa, Polka, Kizom- ba, Zouk, Bachata, Schot- tische. Like 31 flavors, of ice cream, or a cellar of fine wines, each offers its own slightly nuanced flavor to inspire and delight. Yes, such partner dances can definitely transform you —if you let them. Who knows where you will end up, and who you will become? But be assured our social dance community, is a safe place to test it all out and find out who the next real you is. Or besides picking a dance genre, pick a simpler brand- ing that people recognize you by. This is good if you are the consistent, non-cre- ative type. "Bandanna Bob" up at Friday Night Waltz is never seen without his headband. "Singing Tom" is the guy who sings opera while he dances, quite well, in fact. (NOTE: make sure your branding is a positive one, like theirs, nothing annoy- ing or you will repel dance partners) Yet, for me, none of the above quite fits, because every dance I dip my feet into sparks a new hue of flame in my soul. I can- not be limited to only one dance personality. So to contrast my daytime plain loyal old WYSIWYG me, I have chosen for my dance nickname the most in- triguing, all-encompassing label: "Mystery Woman." The quizzical look on my new partner's faces is my delightful reward. So, to become the best version of you that you are meant to be, let your dancing community help you test out the New You. After all, the most satis- fying way to find out who we are is by interacting with others who reflect our true and best worth back to us. Let's find those people who do that for us. Even better let's BE the ones who do that for others too, whether on the dance floor or in life. That's what life is all about, right? Dance with you soon (whoever you choose to be next). DISCLAIMER: This article is NOT generated by the awesome new Chat GPT AI bot, that just came out this month, but by my old-fashioned, highly imperfect "AI" (Actual Intelligence) brain. Thus it will contain no cat-inspired comedy. However, last night "Mr. Dance Tech" Richard P. did show me a cool new Chat GPT inspired dance move: Cross-Step Waltz-pivot on count 2! Therefore, despite the looooong waiting list I just signed up for it. Watch this space for im- proved robo-wit in future stories.