Lessons learned from a CERT Volunteer
When Aldria Walker was looking for something new to do in 2021, she immediately started looking for ways to help her community. “It’s very important to me,” said the Pensacola, FL native, “for individuals to not only help themselves but to also help our neighbors.”
Walker, who had been involved in community volunteer opportunities while living previously in California found the opportunity, she was looking for here when she visited the Pensacola based Disaster Preparedness non-profit Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE). Founded in 2006 after the devastation of Hurricane Ivan, BRACE provides support and coordination for Escambia County Florida and the surrounding region with more than 500 various public and non-profit partners. These partners provide programs and services to the community through preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
Teaching is one of Walkers favorite skills and she soon found herself teaching adults and children the basics of disaster preparedness, first aid, fire suppression, search and rescue and more. “I find that it’s important to teach children and adults alike that they CAN make a difference when disasters arrive. We don’t have to sit helpless”, said Walker, adding “It’s important that we realize that regardless of our age or abilities we can be helpful. In fact, we can be safe and responsible rescuers without having to become rescued ourselves.”
“One of my favorite classes,” said Walker, “was when another volunteer and I taught a group of 6- to 12-year-old children disaster preparedness at the Ebonwood Community Center in Pensacola. We found ways to teach the children that they could think for themselves and be of invaluable assistance to their families in helping make up Disaster Boxes that could be used while sheltering at home or even on the road.” Walker explained that the teachers scattered a variety of disaster preparedness necessities such as flashlights, rain ponchos, snacks, games and toilet paper throughout a room and then provided the children with a no-notice scenario. “In one scenario I explained that they were going to be evacuating in a car that got stuck in traffic for five hours,” said Walker. “I found that a lot of the children immediately went to the snacks and flashlights but after discussions about what else could come along, board games and toilet paper were automatically grabbed for the next scenarios disaster box afterwards!”
Pet Preparedness was another class that Walker and her group taught the children. “I was truly surprised when I saw that Pet Preparedness was a suggested topic,” said Walker. “I love my pets but honestly it never occurred to me that they would be part of my disaster plan.” As any child and pet parent can attest, our children are very attached to the family pets and, when the pets are safe, the children feel safer too. “Children can help make sure that the animals have enough food and water, they can go with the pet to their ‘safe space’ where they feel comfortable, and they can help teach the animals to come to the owner,” said Walker. “Everyone can do something. Having the opportunity to teach these little guys that they could make a difference in a disaster was life changing and I look for opportunities to do that again and again.”