WEST TRENTON N.J. - The New Jersey Office of Emergency Management today supplied Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in 15 municipalities with specialized Disaster Response and Flood Response Utility Trailers.  The trailers will enhance the communities’ emergency response capabilities during times of crisis and assist first responders during flooding events.  Riverine flooding is the most frequent hazard faced by New Jersey residents, with 1,196 flood events in the past 15 years; and 16 flood-related Presidential Disaster Declarations within the same time period.

“New Jersey is proud to be home to one of the nation’s largest CERT programs --- 19,000 volunteers organized into 432 teams,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent and Director of the NJ Office of Emergency Management.  “The program is robust because of citizen engagement, neighbor helping neighbor, a New Jersey tradition.  We will continue to support our volunteers’ efforts by equipping them with resources, such as the Disaster Response and Flood Response Utility Trailers.  Fifteen communities are receiving equipment today, but it’s also a time to thank and recognize all CERT volunteers who serve others selflessly during adverse conditions.”

The following communities received Disaster Response Utility Trailers:

• Bernardsville Boro (Somerset County)
• Hillsborough Township (Somerset County)
• Ho-Ho-Kus Borough (Bergen County)
• Riverfront CERT (Burlington City, Burlington Township, Florence Township – Burlington County) 
• Brick Township (Ocean County) 
• Ocean Township (Ocean County) 
• City of Hoboken (Hudson County)
• Readington Township (Hunterdon County)
• River Vale Township (Bergen County) 
• Waldwick Boro (Bergen County) 
• Woodbridge Township (Middlesex County) 

The Disaster Response Utility Trailers are worth $9,830.00 each.  Each trailer is equipped with a generator, basic medical supplies, lighting equipment, tools, tents and evacuation support equipment.  Ho-Ho-Kus Borough received a Mobile Command Post Utility Trailer.

The following CERT teams received Flood Response Utility Trailers:

• Passaic County Sheriff’s Office (Passaic County CERT)
• City of Rahway CERT (Union County)
• County of Monmouth (Monmouth County CERT)
• Pemberton Township CERT (Burlington County)

The Flood Response Utility Trailers are strategically located across New Jersey. Each trailer is equipped with generators, submersible and centrifugal pumps, various types of hoses, clean-up tools and other hardware items.  The trailers and equipment are valued at $12,420 each.  Pemberton Township received a larger trailer valued at $14,588.00, which is part of a pilot project.

Both types of trailers are funded by the United States Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.   Today’s deployment brings the total number of CERT Utility Trailers allocated by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management to 100.  

The New Jersey Citizen Corps is a volunteer program directed by NJOEM. It includes the Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), Neighborhood Watch, Volunteers in Police Service and Fire Corps. New Jersey Citizen Corps and New Jersey CERT are one of the largest programs of their kind in the nation.
Citizen Corps volunteers are ordinary citizens who supplement and support their area’s first responders. The volunteers undergo basic emergency management training including fire suppression, first aid and triage, search and rescue and disaster psychology.

During crises, including last year’s Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee and October Early- Season Snowstorm, New Jersey CERT volunteers have taken a leadership role in helping their neighbors; staffing emergency operations centers and evacuee shelters; directing the activities of other volunteers; and searching for missing children.   New Jersey CERT and Medical Reserve Corps volunteers worked nearly 42,000 hours in response to Hurricane Irene.

Citizen Corps volunteers must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. Anyone can participate, regardless of their level of physical ability. Those interested should call
(609) 963-6995 and speak with Howard Butt, the New Jersey Citizen Corps Coordinator.  CERT information can also be found at www.ready.nj.gov.

For more information regarding communities receiving CERT trailers:   http://ready.nj.gov/citizen/pdf/062612_certrailer_deployment.pdf

To stay informed about disasters and emergencies in New Jersey via social media, follow the NJOEM on Twitter @ReadyNJ, "like" us on www.facebook.com/READYNEWJERSEY, or get email and text message alerts via www.Nixle.com or www.njalert.gov.