April 7, 2008
UM’s ‘Canes Emergency Response Team Awarded Grant to Help Replicate Program at Other Universities
CERT Replication Conference To Be Held on April 11th & 12th
CORAL GABLES, FL (April 7, 2008) – The University of Miami ‘Canes Emergency Response Team (CERT) was awarded a grant of $123,000 by the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund that will be used to replicate its emergency response program at other Florida universities.
The grant money will be applied towards efforts of recreating UM’s volunteer force at other Florida Universities over the course of three years. UM CERT will devise a model, providing everything from documents, standard operating procedures, and ideas for skill development exercises and continuing education. Together with educators and students from across the state, the process will begin with the “CERT Replication Conference,” that will be held on April 11th and 12th at the University of Miami Coral Gables campus.
CERT will share information on how the program began, as well as how it currently functions. At the conclusion of the conference, all participating universities will be given application materials to apply for one of four spots in a special program where faculty and students from the CERT program will offer personalized guidance in building their own program. Over the course of three years, UM will work side by side with the chosen schools to ensure a smooth and successful launch of the program.
Speakers at the conference will include Alan Fish, Vice President for Business Services and Director of the UM Disaster Plan, Dr. David V. Shatz, Medical Director for UM CERT, Chief David Rivero of the UM Police Department, Chiefs Hope Gibbs and Marc Stolzenberg of Coral Gables Fire Rescue, and Chief Bob Palestrant and Roslyn Viterbo from the Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
The Jessie Ball DuPont Fund is a private group dedicated to the advancement of society in all aspects of life. The fund was set up in honor of and with the resources left by Jessie Ball DuPont, a champion for education and strengthening communities. The group donates resources to a wide variety of organizations with the goal of strengthening communities in Florida.
CERT was created to provide the University community with a team of responders trained to aid in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. It is student-led and is activated during large-scale disasters affecting the Miami area, as well as during non-disaster times as a resource for the University of Miami Police Department.
For more information on UM CERT visit www.umcert.com or contact William Coffin, CERT President at 305-284-4483.
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Media Contact:
Sahyli Ramirez
(305) 284-5500
sramirez@miami.edu
