MSU Emergency Response Team Holds ‘Preparathon’ Saturday

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Press Release) — Mississippi State’s Community Emergency Response Team will hold a “Preparathon” Saturday [Oct. 18] featuring an Emergency Preparedness Fair and half marathon, 5K and Family Fun Run races.

The half marathon and 5K races begin at 7 a.m. and the Family Fun Run will begin at 8 a.m. Proceeds will benefit Oktibbeha County Volunteer Fire Departments, Oktibbeha/Starkville Emergency Response Volunteer Services (also known as OSERVS), and the Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services. Organizers said race-day registration will be accepted, but they encourage participants to pre-register online. Anyone may join one of the cheer groups along the race routes. Routes and additional information also are available online at http://cert.msstate.edu/2014-preparathon.

All events will be held adjacent to the Bryan Athletic Administration Building on campus, and the Emergency Preparedness Fair will feature more than 30 local and state emergency management and response agencies. Fire trucks will be on display, and organizers are planning a family event that will appeal to all ages. The 8 a.m.- noon fair is free and open to all.

Ryan Akers, assistant extension professor of community preparation and disaster management, is coordinator for the MSU CERT organization, which routinely promotes community awareness of disaster issues and stands ready to serve as intermediary responders on campus, as needed.

“Families are encouraged to bring children to the fair,” Akers said. “The Touch-a-Truck style event will keep the kids entertained and allow for all families to receive preparedness information.”

Akers explained that CERT has a two-fold mission.

“Our members are strategically located on campus and can provide support as needed. And, by virtue of working on a college campus, we feel we have an obligation to educate the community,” Akers said.

Brent Crocker, a CERT member who works as MSU associate director of recreational sports, said the Preparathon aims to bring awareness to campus and local citizens and to encourage people to prepare for potential disasters, such as weather emergencies, health-related emergencies, or even such possible scenarios as acts of terrorism.

In addition to his work at MSU, Crocker works part-time as an emergency medical technician with Oktibbeha County Regional Medical Center, and many of his fellow MSU CERT members are likewise involved in first responder work for various agencies.

Bobby Goff, assistant manager of computing systems for the MSU Extension Service, is a member of the Sturgis Volunteer Fire Department, and likewise, Wes Lowe, research associate for agricultural and biological engineering, serves with the Houston Volunteer Fire Department.

Goff and Lowe said the CERT members have training that positions them to help their immediate community during a time of need.

“We’re the first line of response or defense until more specialized help arrives,” Lowe said.

“CERT includes multiple first responders, as well as subject matter experts of all kinds,” Goff said. “We’re here to respond as trained responders in the event we’re needed. We can act in an intermediary role before first responders arrive on the scene and assist first responders who do come to campus in the event of an emergency.”

Akers said CERT will be among the agencies represented at the Emergency Preparedness Fair. He hopes that in addition to increasing awareness about emergency preparedness in general, the Preparathon also will promote awareness about MSU’s CERT organization, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps volunteer programs.

Akers said many people on campus confuse CERT with the MSU Crisis Action Team, which is made up of key administrators, faculty and staff members who have undergone extensive training to prepare for a variety of potential crisis situations on campus. In the event of an emergency, the Crisis Action Team will convene to coordinate an immediate plan or response to ensure safety of students and others on campus and smooth operations at MSU.

Akers said he also is a member of the university’s Crisis Action Team, and the CERT members are among the many emergency response resources available to university decision-makers.

For more information about Mississippi State, visit www.msstate.edu.