Free disaster preparedness training offered

The Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) and the National Sheriffs’ Association are sponsoring a free All-Hazards Homeland Security Initiative Community Partnership and Awareness Training for Disaster Preparedness in Wahkiakum County.

This training opportunity is designed to educate the community how best to prepare for and respond to a disaster when emergency responders are overwhelmed. Hurricane Katrina has taught that citizens may be left to cope with a crisis on their own for the first hours or even longer.

Training includes:

--How to create a Family Disaster Plan;

--What to include in a Family Disaster Plan;

--Developing a Community Resource Data Base;

--Crisis Response;

--Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, & Explosive information;

--Terrorism Awareness;

--A Desktop Exercise specific to Wahkiakum County.

The class will take place at the Wahkiakum County Courthouse, 64 Main Street, Cathlamet, on March 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The classroom will be open at 8:30 a.m. for check-in. The training is cost-free to all attendees.

All interested community members are strongly encouraged to participate. To attend, one must register by contacting Beau Renfro at 795-3242, 465-2202, renfrob@co.wahkiakum.wa.us, or register online at http://www.co.wahkiakum.wa.us/Register.htm.