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The State of Connecticut has implemented a state-of-the-art emergency notification system to alert residents anywhere in the state about life-threatening emergency conditions.
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2024 September 27-29
Posted by Ed Litherland, October 12, 2024 733 PM
City of Bristol held its annual MUM Festival over 3 days. Besides carnival rides, food trucks and displays there were vendors promoting their businesses, cra show with over 200 vehicles. Additionally, there was a kids’ area of various activities and “touch-a-truck. CERT was honored to be selected the “Home Town Herios” for all the years of assisting at many venues and events providing traffic and pedestrian control ensuring safety of all.
2024 January 18-22
Posted by Ed Litherland, January 24, 2024 8:27 PM
Governor Lamont initiated the Cold Weather Protocol Mandate to all towns to open a shelter establishing a place where the homeless could go to shelter from the extreme cold. Temperatures dipped down to 10 to 15 degrees F. with wind chills having an adverse effect causing the temperatures feel like single digits. CERT was activated from 1/18/24 to 1/22/24. The shelter was located at the Main library in Bristol averaging between 10-13 individuals seeking shelter from the extreme cold. Many of those individuals were very appreciative of the care and dedication that CERT and Bristol, Burlington Health District offered. (See photos under “About Us/Photo Albums/Cold Weather Shelter 2024)
2023 June
Posted by Ed Litherland July 9, 2023 3:02 PM
City of Bristol Exchange Club held a dinner at the Aqua Turf Convention Center, Southington, CT in honor of the three Police Officers who responded to a domestic dispute call on October 12, 2022. Two of the officers were shot and killed and another wounded responding to the 911 call. The two officers who died are Sgt Dustin Demonte, Officer Alex Hamzy and the one injured is Officer Alec Iurato. Even though time has passed, the City of Bristol still mourns the loss of the two officers. The dinner was attended by Governor Lamont, Senator Blumenthal and many other dignitaries. For those in blue that put their lives on the line every day we salute them and honor them for their dedication to protect and serve.
2022 August 27
Posted by Ed Litherland August 27,2022 6:30 PM
Bristol held training classes on how to use a fire extinguisher to suppress a small fire. Classes were held at Firehouse 4 and training provided by Captain James Blaschke today. Cpt Blaschke demonstrated how to use a fire extinguisher, the different types of extinguishers and what each is used for. Ten members of CERT attended the training and each member was able to have hands on instruction on how to use the extinguisher. Cpt Blaschke explained what the acronym PASS (pull-aim-squeeze-sweep) meant.
2021 December 08
Posted by Ed Litherland December 12, 2021, 4:26 PM
Bristol CERT held it’s Christmas party at the Bristol Senior Center. Also the party was in celebration to Bristol CERT’s 15 year anniversary. In attendance were invited special guests (Jeff Caggiano, Bristol Mayor, Past Mayors, Bill Storz and Art Ward, Marco Palmeri, Dir. BBHD and Colin McFadden’s family). Art Ward read the city Proclamation honoring 15 years of serve by CERT volunteers. The evening was enjoyed by all and true to form the leftovers were donated to resident housing. where one of our CERT works.
2021 June 09
Posted by Ed Litherland June 10,2021, 7:25 PM
Graduation Day – our newest members to Bristol CERT
2021 June 09
Posted by Ed Litherland June 9, 2021, 6:30 PM
First in-person meeting of Bristol CERT, as well as graduation for the Zoom CERT basic class . Congratulation to those students who put forth the effort and are graduating.
2021 May 01
Posted by Ed Litherland May 01, 2021 12:00 PM
CERT has been assisting with traffic control for COVID vaccine point of distribution (POD) at ESPN North campus on various days throughout April. Coordination efforts are shared by City of Bristol, Bristol-Burlington Health District, Bristol Health, ESPN security, CERT and Medical Reserves Corp (MRC).
2021 April 01
Posted by Ed Litherland April 30, 2021 10:50 AM
Bristol kicked off the virtual (ZOOM) online Basic training course for 20+ prospective members on April 1, 2021. Classes cover subjects on Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization, Disaster Psychology, Disaster Medical Operations, Terrorism, Fire Safety & Utility Controls and Light Search and Rescue. The entire training runs weekly for 9 weeks, 2 hours each class. All the classes train CERT members to be prepared for emergencies and how their relationship to the community it serves.
2021 March 26
Posted by Ed Litherland march 28, 2021 3:50 PM
Mayor Ellen Zappo-Sassu honors Bristol’s first responders and essential workers by displaying posters with their pictures throughout the city to show the faces of those who serve.
2021 March 16
posted by Ed Litherland March 18. 2021 2:45 PM
Chief Brian Gould representing the Police Commission of the city of Bristol, CT, honors Bristol CERT for their service and dedication toward the community of Bristol. Below are the accolades as presented to CERT.
2021 CERT Basic Training Now on ZOOM
posted by Ed Litherland March 5, 2021 2:10 PM
The CERT 24 hour basic training course has been approved and is now given on ZOOM. Bristol CERT sponsoring a class starting April 1, 2021, running for 9 weeks on Thursday evenings.
2021 CDC Advertising – Have they gone crazy – – What’s Next
Submitted by Rick Lehmert – posted by Ed Litherland March 5, 2021 1:50 PM
Got to read this interesting article put out by the CDC
2021 BBHD Vaccine
posted by Ed Litherland February 10, 2021 7:50 PM [Updated March 2, 2021 10:20 AM]
CERT assisted the Bristol Burlington Health District handling traffic control for 400 75 and older receiving their first COVID vaccine.
2021 Train the Trainer
posted by Ed Litherland February 10, 2021 7:45 PM
Five members graduated on 1/23/21 from the Train the Trainer course put on by DEMHS. The 5 are qualified to teach the Basic CERT course for potential new members
2020 Farmers to Families food Distribution
posted Oct 26, 2020 9:00 PM by Ed Litherland [Updated October 28, 2020 9;00 PM] [Updated March 2, 2021 10:20 AM]
The Bristol CERT team has assisted the city in the distribution of food boxes to residents of Bristol, Burlington, Plainville and Terryville. The team handled traffic control for the numerous events at various locations in the city.
2020 CERT COVID 19 Student Lunch Program
posted Oct 26, 2020 8:45 PM by Ed Litherland
The Bristol CERT team was activated to assist the BOE on the COVID19 school lunch handout program. CERT members had the responsibility of handling traffic and pedestrian control for the smooth transmission of lunches.
2020 STEP Program for 5thGraders
posted Oct 25, 2020 10:00 PM by Ed Litherland
A 5 member team of CERT volunteers have presented the STEP (Student Tools for Emergency Planning) to 5th graders in the city of Bristol since 2016. The 5th graders learn valuable lessons in basic emergency preparedness and with these lessons they can review and teach their families the importance to be prepared for emergencies. To date (even though the team only completed half the schools due to COVID 19) the team has presented the STEP program to approximately 2000 5th graders since starting the program in 2016. The students are given two homework assignments; make an emergency communication plan and a basic emergency kit. “Kids are our future” and we want them to be safe.
2013 Annual meeting report – filed in 2014
posted Feb 25, 2014, 6:00 PM by Chris Perreault [ updated Feb 25, 2014, 6:00 PM ]
| A lot of our news items land on Facebook. Since the 2013 Duck Race Bristol CERT helped out at a car show, a half marathon, Family Fun Day, the Mum Festival, held a fundraise at the 99 Restaurant, and was at the Pumpkin Festival. We briefly were at the Balloons over Bristol event, but the rain sent us home along with everyone else. What follows is the report we submitted as an annual updating that is required by Article II of the CT Citizen Corps Council bylaws and must reported by March 20, 2014:
Bristol CERT 2013 Meeting Report Over the course of 2013 Bristol CERT held 10 regular monthly meetings and held five Officer meetings. The two missed monthly member meetings saw us in attendance at a fundraiser for CERT in September and at a holiday party in December. Officer meetings were held in February, April, August, September, and November where SOPs, events, and other discussions took place. At the member meetings we planned for and reviewed the following community events that the team participated in: traffic management at the Medical Waste Disposal in April, first aid at Forestville Duck Race in May, traffic management at the Bristol Car Show in June, communications and traffic management at a half-marathon event in August to benefit the Fisher House, both an educational booth the Family Fun Day as well as traffic control at the Mum Festival in September, and the Pumpkin Festival in October where we did some fundraising, educated the public and had games for the kids to play. We also planned for and reviewed training activities such as Skywarn, a tour of the Bristol PD, First Aid, CPR, train crossing hazards, sheltering, communications, a single 20 hour Basic CERT class we hosted, the Citizen Corps Conference, and the CERT Weekend that was held at the Fire Academy in Windsor Locks. We reviewed the activations our members participated in such as shelter operations during a severe cold spell in January, another shelter operation during the February blizzard, and a Southington Search and Rescue operation that four Bristol CERT members who are also part of Southington CERT participated in. In 2013 Bristol CERT saw 25 new members being sworn in. Our members volunteered over 1,000 hours of their time physically being at non-meeting events. All of our meeting agendas and minutes are available on the website (www.BristolCERT.com) in the About Us section. Chris Perreault Captain Bristol CERT |
Bristol CERT assists at the 2013 Pequabuck Duck Race
posted May 12, 2013, 6:49 PM by Chris Perreault
| Bristol CERT once again staffed a booth at the Pequabuck Duck Race located in Forestville, CT. They answered emergency preparedness questions, talked about emergency communications and how amateur radio can play a role in that, and ran a first aid station that rendered assistance to 5 people. |
Bristol CERT wraps up 7 week class with 18 graduates
posted Mar 26, 2013, 10:34 PM by Chris Perreault [ updated Mar 26, 2013, 10:35 PM ]
| 18 people received certificates from the state saying they had completed the Basic CERT class, a 21 hour class offered by CERT groups across the country. Some took the class to learn how to be better prepared at home, to further their education, and to be in a better position to help their community. By the end of the course, which was held in 3 hour sessions, everyone who graduated decided they’d like to volunteer with Bristol’s Community Emergency Response Team. Congrats to them! The ceremony was held in Bristol’s Council Chambers on Friday March 22, 2013.
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GOV. MALLOY: SEVERE COLD WEATHER IMPACTING THE STATE
posted Jan 22, 2013, 6:46 PM by Chris Perreault [ updated Jan 22, 2013, 6:46 PM ]
GOV. MALLOY: SEVERE COLD WEATHER IMPACTING THE STATEUrges Anyone Needing Shelter to Call 2-1-1 (HARTFORD, CT) – With bitter winter cold temperatures expected over the next several days, Governor Dannel P. Malloy today directed the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), the Department of Social Services (DSS) and the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) to coordinate with 2-1-1 and Connecticut’s network of shelters to ensure that the state’s most vulnerable people are protected. “Overnight temperatures are expected to range from 0 to 10 degrees over the next several days,” Governor Malloy said. “Factor in the wind chill, and it will feel like 0 to -15 degrees. We are taking steps now to make sure that we can take care of those in need of shelter. “The 2-1-1 system provides an incredibly important service to the people of Connecticut and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the help that is available to them. I am also encouraging local communities to consider opening warming centers or other facilities to help people in need.” Under the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol, DEMHS activates its WebEOC communications network – an internet-based system that allows local, regional and state emergency management officials and first responders to share up-to-date information about a variety of situations and conditions. The system is used to monitor capacity at shelters across the state, enabling 2-1-1 to act as a clearinghouse to ensure shelter space is found for those who need it. Local officials, working through WebEOC, can alert 2-1-1 and the state when they open temporary shelters or warming centers. DSS coordinates with 2-1-1 and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, as well as working with existing vendors to resolve transportation issues for people needing shelter during the period of severe cold. DMHAS, meanwhile, has teams who specialize in working with homeless people to locate those who are at risk, spread the word about the 2-1-1 system, and encourage everyone to take advantage of the safety of shelters. The agency is also working with shelters to assess and meet the needs of individual clients during this cold snap. |
Bristol CERT offers free training to the public
posted Jan 15, 2013, 11:35 PM by Chris Perreault
| http://bristolobserver.com/2013/01/12/bristol-cert-offering-emergency-preparedness-classes/
Published Jan 12, 2012 in the Bristol Observer: The Observer received the following press release of interest to the general public. for more information about CERT. Topics covered in the class: Unit 1 – Disaster Preparedness |
100 Facebook Likes
posted Jan 6, 2013, 9:27 PM by Chris Perreault
| www.facebook.com/bristol CERT hit 100 likes today. Facebook allows us to share our disaster preparedness message with even more people while also raising awareness of what CERT is about. It also lets us inform people of various volunteer opportunities everyone has within their communities. |
Cooling Center to be opened from 10am until 6pm on July 18th 2012.
posted Jul 18, 2012, 9:54 AM by Chris Perreault
| Once again the city has requested that the Bristol CERT group deploy to the main library at 5 High Street in Bristol. Drink plenty of fluids and be careful out there in heat. If you know of folks who don’t have cooling suggest they head to the Cooling Center or any place with air conditioning during the worst part of the day. |
Cooling Center to be opened from noon until 6pm on July 17th 2012.
posted Jul 17, 2012, 9:53 AM by Chris Perreault
| The city of Bristol has requested CERT’s presence at the main library on 5 High Street from noon until 6pm today. The city will be announcing this as a designated Cooling Center during this time period. |
Cooling Shelters
posted Jun 20, 2012, 6:22 PM by Chris Perreault [ updated Jun 22, 2012, 10:05 PM ]
| The mayor of Bristol opened a cooling shelter at the Main Library ( 860-584-7787) on 5 High Street in Bristol on Wednesday June 20th and Thursday June 21st. CERT had a presence there from noon until 5pm both days. Meanwhile, 24 people were treated for heat exhaustion over in New Britain during the high school graduation ceremony. Please be aware of how you feel when the temperatures get high as they have today, in the upper 90’s. Head someplace cool and drink plenty of fluids. Check on neighbors who may be at higher risk when it gets hot out. |
Bristol Press submission regarding The Safety Fair held on 6-9-2012
posted Jun 20, 2012, 6:16 PM by Chris Perreault
| Dear Editor:
On behalf of the Bristol CERT, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of the organizations that participated with us in the 2nd Annual CERT Safety Fair on June 9. We thank the Bristol Fire Department, Bristol Hospital EMS, the DOT Railroad Safety Van, The Bristol Senior Center, The Bristol Kiwanis Club, the Commission on People with Disabilities, Councilman Eric Carlson, Dr. Ptaszynski and “Refuse to Be a Victim Program”, The Southington CERT Search & Rescue Team and Chet Bacon and the Radio Club. We would especially like to thank the Bristol American Legion for letting us use their facility for this event and all of the Sponsors who donated door prizes to make this event possible. Thank you to all of the members of the Bristol and Southington CERT teams and the Boy Scouts who attended and assisted with the children’s games, we are deeply appreciative. And a big thank you to the public who came and enjoyed the festivities for your support of the Bristol CERT team.2 |