Metro Starts Emergency Training

The Metro with, its hundreds of patrons and miles of track, could easily be targeted by terrorists. Metro has responded to this threat with new safety precautions and awareness programs. Metro, the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area, the U.S. department of Homeland Security and the U.S. department of Transportation/Federal Transit Administration are working together to reach out to educate the city on their new safety programs and how to prepare for emergencies through publications, such as the Brochure "Together We Prepare," available at information kiosks in all metro stations. Metro has also established a project in conjunction with a branch of the Citizen Corps., the Community Emergency Reaction Team (CERT), to educate Metro patrons how to react in case of an emergency. The Washington Post recently published the Metro Emergency Guide, a compilation of tips and procedures to follow in case of a crisis. Metro has been hosting Open Houses at stations around the city attempting to get the word out about what plans are being set into motion to help make the metro safer. At the September 10 Open House in the Metro Center station, Ronald Bodmer, Lieutenant and Emergency Management Coordinator of the Metro Transit Police Department, was able to shed some light about the program that Metro is starting. What began as a local project "has grown into a regional activity," according to Bodmer. He added that CERTs from many different jurisdictions are participating. Citizens from all walks of life are joining the CERT program in order to aid their community during emergencies. Bodmer also provided information on upcoming events within the program. On September 15 and 23 Metro will be training selected CERT members on how to navigate the metro tunnels safely and also general information about the trains themselves. A third session will focus on how to identify criminal and terrorist activities. These training sessions are designed to allow the CERT members to assist other metro passengers in case of emergencies. The concept of CERT began with a program created by the Los Angelos Fire Department and has been a national program since 1993. CERT covers a broad area of emergency responses, from fires to earthquakes, and the metro project is the newest implementation. The CERT program is open to all citizens, including students. CERT members are trained by public safety officials in many different areas, from debris removal to first aid, and will hopefully be able to assist officials in cases of crisis.