Overseas TV crew tapes Arlington emergency preparedness team
By: David Sherfinski
Examiner Staff Writer
July 5, 2009
A TV crew from the nation of Georgia has taped a group of Arlington emergency responders for a series about disaster response to be broadcast on public television in that Middle Eastern country.
Georgian Public Broadcasting, with help from the State Department, filmed 16 members of Arlington’s Community Emergency Response Team practicing bandaging and splinting at the county’s Fire Training Academy. CERT was formed on the one-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and has trained about 400 residents since then.
“We appreciate the opportunity to help emphasize the importance of personal preparedness, as well as the value of programs like the CERT program,” said Jack Brown, acting director of Arlington’s Office of Emergency Management. “Trained citizens could make all the difference in a major disaster ... in Arlington, Georgia or anywhere else in the world.”
Lt. Gregg Karl of the Arlington County Fire Department provided direction for the session and is one of Arlington County’s CERT course instructors.
“It went very well. They were in and out in an hour; they knew exactly what they were looking for,” said Cynthia Kellams, CERT volunteer coordinator and citizen liaison for the team. “We believe everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves in a disaster and to assist those around them if possible. Anything we can do to help spread that message locally — or globally — is a good thing.”
Principal photography and interviews for the series were set to take place in the D.C. area, Oregon and Illinois between June 21 and July 5.
The CERT program is sponsored by the County’s Office of Emergency Management and the Arlington County Fire Department. It is a Citizen Corps program that educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response.
