Salem CERT Update

By Mark Wardell, For The West Side Newspaper

Cookies and Cache

It’s that time of year; I am happy to announce the return of our 4th Annual Cookies and Cache summer series. These events are designed to blend practical field practice and neighborly socializing. We kick things off on June 16th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Cache 11C, located at Peace Lutheran Church (1525 Glen Creek Rd NW). We’ll be practicing the "deployment" side of things setting up Operations, Medical, and Search and Rescue stations straight from the cache. This includes the always-entertaining challenge of mastering setting up our pop-up shelters! It’s a great way to keep your skills sharp in a low-pressure, outdoor setting.

The series continues July 15th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Cache 11A, located in Salemtowne (2900 Oakcrest Dr NW). For this second installment, we’ll focus on communication and outreach. We’ll spend time practicing with FRS and GMRS radios to ensure our coordination is seamless, and we’ll also do a "dry run" of our information booth setup, the same one you see at the state fair or local farmers markets. Of course, we wouldn't call it "Cookies and Cache" without the treats; once the gear is tucked away, we’ll head inside for a social hour with cookies and a short, inspiring message to wrap up the evening.

As always, everyone is welcome to join us. You don't need to be a certified CERT member to attend. Whether you want to jump in and get your hands on the gear, or you’d prefer to just pull up a chair, watch the action, and kibitz with your neighbors, we would love to have you. These evenings are about building the relationships that make West Salem strong, so come on out and see what we're all about.

Fall CERT Training

For those of you who were disappointed by the postponement of our spring training, I have some good news: we are officially looking toward the fall for our next full CERT class series. While the exact dates are still being finalized, we expect classes to begin in September or October.

Because interest in West Salem is always high, I am compiling a waitlist for this upcoming session. Getting your name on this list ensures that you will receive the registration link before it is released to the general public. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to turn your concern for your neighbors into practical skills like emergency preparedness operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue, this is your chance. Just send me a quick email, and I'll make sure you’re the first to know when the schedule is set.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this article, preparedness, or would like to inquire about joining CERT, please contact me, Mark Wardell, at PNMarkW2@gmail.com. I am also available to schedule presentations for your group, including HOAs, neighborhood groups, and communities of faith. You may also find more information about Salem CERT by visiting SalemOregonCERT.org.