A Carbon County Commissioner is highlighting the importance of a resident training program that can help neighbors in emergencies.

On Thursday, Commissioner Rocky Ahner spoke about the CERT program, or Community Emergency Response Team. The CERT program aims to arm residents with the knowledge and preparedness to best help their community’s municipal emergency service organizations in emergencies or during countywide initiatives.

The program is overseen by Fred Merluzzi and Mark Nalesnik of the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency and teaches first aid and triage, disaster preparedness, fire suppression, search and rescue and terrorism awareness, Ahner said.

“If you see disasters in other communities throughout the country, they’re the ones going house to house checking for survivors and putting an X on the door to determine a cleared residence,” Ahner said, adding that one example of the local effort was in October 2020 during the flu shot distribution at Lehighton Area School District.

In that event, Ahner said CERT members were “directing traffic, making sure staff and attendees were hydrated and watching over the overall safety of the event.”

Ahner also highlighted a motion the board passed that approved a $1,200 training package with Bucks County Community College. The training package is funded through the Hazardous Materials Response Fund Grant.

The action was an annual renewal for the training, which provides 200 hours of hazmat-related courses to first responders.

Ahner thanked Nalesnik for doing as much as he can to get first responders and the public trained in necessary programs.