Book Series Extends Value of Community Emergency Response Team Training

IRVINE, Calif. - Aug. 17, 2015 - PRLog -- After investing eight weeks in the FEMA-sponsored Community Emergency Response Team program, graduates are eager to share what they have learned. Building a community group is the best way, but most grads find themselves on their own in this effort.

A new guidebook is available to give motivated CERT grads a head start in building a group. The Survival Series is by CERT grads Joseph Krueger and Virginia Nicols and reflects their award-winning business- and community-building experience.

“In a real emergency, it’s our neighbors who will be there first, so the more they know, the better!” says long-time security enthusiast Krueger.

Partner Nicols adds: “Not everyone can take the formal CERT training, so as soon as we completed ours – 14 years ago! -- we set about building a group around us.”

Along the way Krueger and Nicols, both professional writers, recorded their progress – and their setbacks – month by month, year by year.

They have captured it all in three 50+ page guidebooks, available for purchase on their website, http://EmergencyPlanGuide.org/Survival-Series/

Survival Planning for Apartment Dwellers addresses the advantage of having neighbors to work with – and the challenge of an often transient population, not to mention the need for working closely with property management.

Survival Planning for Mobile and Manufactured Home Communities is aimed at retirees. A mobile home park may have residents with more skills. At the same time, it often needs special planning for people with limited mobility -- and for pets!

Survival Planning for Neighborhoods takes on the challenge of bringing together today's busy suburban families who may not have developed strong neighborhood relationships.

Each book has recommendations for personal preparedness, how to reach out to neighbors, how to set up the group command structure, and page after page of suggestions, recommendations and samples.

When it comes to attracting neighbors to join in, Nicols says, “Your team is made up of volunteers, so you have to make it appealing. And yes, it takes repeated effort. But even a few people willing to invest in the community can make a big difference to its safety.”

Nicols' and Krueger’s neighborhood team has become an important social force. Team members have responded to several emergencies and have won recognition from their city’s mayor and police chief.