To the Editor:

Community Emergency Response Team training is offered to the public through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

Dallas County has 19 certified CERT instructors and four trained CERT teams consisting of 82 citizens who are now trained to help themselves, their families, neighbors and community in times of disaster.

The president of the United States asked Americans to volunteer their services to improve and safeguard our country. I have personally worked with each and everyone of these caring individuals and I want to formally thank them all for answering this call.

I want to thank Rhonda Abbot, Glenys Dukes and Jeff Callens for their support and assistance. These hardworking individuals worked behind the scenes to make this program a success and we couldn’t have done it without them.

I also want to thank and recognize Tim Watson, Doug Horton, Will Dailey, Jacque Johnson, Kevin Ross, Debby Travis, David Evans, David Odom, Gwen Moore, Dannie Simmers and Stacy Goode for giving up their Saturdays to provide their outstanding instruction and expertise.

A special thank you to Dallas County Commission Chairman Kim Ballard, Commissioner Roy Moore, Commissioner Connel Towns, Commissioner Clifford Hunter, Commissioner Curtis Williams and Mayor James Perkins Jr. for their support of the CERT program and emergency management.

I am currently writing a grant to continue the CERT program and hope to train at least 100 more citizens this year. Please contact my office at 874-2515 if you are interested in taking advantage of this training and becoming a valuable Community Emergency Response team member.

Pam Cook

Dallas County Emergency Management