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Duke grant goes to Caldwell County REACT for Hurricane Florence Aid

LENOIR, NC (September 18, 2018) — Monday, September 17, Caldwell County REACT learned they received a $1,500 grant from Duke Energy to purchase additional cots for use in Caldwell County emergency shelters. Duke announced Sunday that grant assistance was available for non-profits working to help with issues related to Hurricane Florence.

Caldwell County REACT is a non-profit of trained volunteers who assists residents during disasters, supports first responders, and educates the public about disaster preparedness.

Members donated over 200 hours last weekend serving the community during the storm. They served in the county’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and the emergency shelter at West Caldwell High School where 13 people and 3 pets took refuge. REACT volunteers set up the cots, helped monitor the shelter 24 hours a day while it remained open, and put it away when the shelter closed Monday. They staffed radio communications as joint members of the Lenoir Amateur Radio Club in the EOC and shelter.

Caldwell County REACT provides free disaster preparedness training. Members will teach a free Basic CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) class, October 15-25, for six evenings, 6:00-9:00 pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in Lenoir. Caldwell County REACT volunteers are required to be CERT trained. For more information or to register, send an email to caldwellcountycert@gmail.com. Find Caldwell County REACT and Caldwell County CERT on Facebook and their website, https://caldwellcountycert.com/.

Caldwell County CERT

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.