January 5, 2005

Harris County Citizen Corps

Harris County Judge Robert Eckels, chair of the Harris County Citizen Corps, on Tuesday participated in a graduation ceremony for downtown Houston's first high-rise Community Emergency Response Team.  Twenty-two people who work in downtown's Cullen Center completed the CERT training program.

"In many emergency situations, citizens find that they are the actual first responders", Eckels said.  "CERT training teaches individuals how to manage a crisis situation before the local first responders come on the scene.  People in high-rise buildings may feel especially vulnerable and now the Cullen Center has a CERT team that can assist their fellow coworkers in the event of a disaster."

Veronica Gutierrez, the life safety manger for the Cullen Center, said that she was looking for a program that offered emergency training.  

"We were looking for additional training," Gutierrez said.  "We wanted a program where the tenants could learn how to become involved in an emergency response if need be.  We found that training with the CERT program of the Harris County Citizen Corps."

Gutierrez said CERT could be the prototype for the city, contending that the Cullen Center is well prepared for emergencies.  

"In our search and rescue class, we learned how to lift a 2,000-pound slab of concrete with a crowbar," Guiterrez said. "You would not believe how easy it is!"

For more information visit www.harriscountycitizencorps.com.

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