Westwood Residents Complete Emergency Training

A group of nine Westwood residents were among the 340 who recently graduated from Community Emergency Response Team and County Animal Response Team classes at the Bergen County Law & Public Safety Institute in Mahwah, according to borough officials.

The grads spent 36 hours over 12 sessions this fall learning topics like fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness and disaster medical operations. They can now participate as CERT volunteers, assisting the county and borough Offices of Emergency Management.

The graduates include Christopher Miras, Pauline Mavridis, Christopher Morgan, Mayo Credle Jr., Damon Vincenty, Beth Holmes, Janet Dunn, Matt D’Elia and Nick Ariemma.

The volunteers will help create a "resilient and secure nation in the face of disasters and large scale emergencies," FEMA Director of Preparedness David Musick said at the recent graduation ceremony.

Anyone interested in becoming a CERT volunteer can email deputyoem@westwoodnj.gov or call 201-664-7100 ext. 123.