Chatham County CERT

07/26/2022

Join us for July's CERT meeting, at our new Thursday time!

Join US National Weather Service Raleigh NC and Chatham County CERT for SKYWARN Severe Weather Spotter Training this Thursday (7/28/2022) at 7:00PM in the Holmes Meeting Room in the Chatham Community Library in Pittsboro (197 NC 87 N, Pittsboro, NC 27312). No cost for the training, and no registration required.

SKYWARN spotters support their local community by providing the NWS with timely and accurate severe weather reports, often from their homes. These reports, when integrated with radar and other technologies are used to inform communities of the proper actions to take as severe weather threatens. SKYWARN helps save lives and property through the use of the observations and reports of trained volunteers.

08/04/2021

Shout Out to Chatham County CERT for their participation in National Night Out: On 3 August 2021 Chatham CERT provided information to Fearrington Village residents for their first annual National Night Out celebration. About 100 residents and guests braved the rain to receive information from the Chatham Fire Department, Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, and Chatham CERT. The focus was on building a relationship with the agencies most likely to help residents during emergencies, whether small or large. Chatham CERT team members discussed various preparation options which residents could perform now which might prevent them from being victims in the future. Residents were particularly interested in low-cost ideas on building a 2-week emergency supply of food, how to store it in small residences, and options on how to keep the lights lit when the power goes out. Education, fun, pizza, and ice cream were enjoyed by all!

PHOTO: Chatham CERT volunteer Steve Krasnow discusses Chatham CERT’s mission with an unidentified Fearrington Village resident.

06/10/2021

Congratulations to Chatham County CERT for being recognized by the Chatham County Board of Health for their work in assisting with COVID response. In the words of a Board of Health Representative, "We are all so thankful for your partnership this year as we collectively planned for and carried out an unprecedented vaccination campaign, and we are grateful that the Board of Health is recognizing CERT with this honor. We couldn't have done it without you!" Chatham County CERT will be presented with the 2021 Partnership of the Year Award at the end of June.

09/28/2020

08/25/2020

August through October is an especially active time during the typical Atlantic hurricane season—and 2020 is no exception. As Hurricane Laura approaches land, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office wants to take the opportunity to remind residents to prepare for possible adverse weather conditions later in the week (as well as in coming months).

Now is the time to check your Hurricane Supply Kit and ensure you have basic items such as:

• At least a 3-day supply of water; one gallon per person per day
• At least a 3-day supply of food; non-perishable and easy-to-prepare
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
• First Aid kit
• Whistle (to signal for help)
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags, and plastic ties
• Hand sanitizer, if available
• Wrench/plyers to turn off utilities
• Dust mask, if available
• Manual can opener
• Local maps (print form in case of connectivity issues)
• Cell phone chargers / battery backups
• Cloth face coverings and backups for all family members over age 2

It’s also a good idea to gather additional items such as:

• Prescription (refill NOW) and non-prescription medications
• Eyeglasses/contacts and solution, if applicable
• Infant formula, bottles, diapers, wipes and diaper rash cream
• Pet food and extra water for each pet
• Cash or traveler’s checks
• Important family documents (copies of insurance policies, IDs, bank account records, etc.) in a waterproof, portable container
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each family member
• Complete weather-appropriate change of clothing and shoes for all family members
• Fire extinguisher
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Personal hygiene items for all family members
• Mess kits, paper cups, plates, paper towels and plastic utensils
• Paper and pencils
• Books, games, puzzles, or other activities to pass the time

(Hint: Visit www.ready.gov for more preparedness tips.)

Chatham County may or may not be affected by this hurricane, but just the same, we should prepare to rise to the challenges ahead. The aftermath of this storm will certainly impact some areas already ravaged by storms this season, so consider donating extra supplies or volunteering to help in the communities hit the hardest! Remember, we all may not be able to help everybody—but each of us can help SOMEBODY, even in the worst of times.

Pictured below: Members of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office donated basic items for care packages to support residents of Bertie County in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaias. Staff members are already preparing for the possibility of another hurricane impacting the Carolinas.

05/27/2020

Reminder: May's Chatham CERT general meeting will be online at 6pm tonight! You should have received a Zoom invite in your email. Let us know if you have any questions!

05/02/2020

http://chathamjournal.com/2020/04/30/preparation-is-24-hours-7-days-a-week-365-days-a-year/

by Andy Foshee Pittsboro, NC – The last storm reminds us that emergency situations can happen any time – even in the middle of another crisis! As we move into the summer storm season – especially including hurricanes – don’t…Read more →

03/11/2020

Looking for information about the COVID-19 novel coronavirus? The CDC has a page full of recommendation on prevention and preparation!

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) identified as the cause of an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China.