You don't have to read the stories to know it's bad in Haiti right now. Just scan the RG headlines for the last three days. Friday's headline was "Frustration, despair follow devastation." Saturday's headline was "Aid slow, tension mounts." And today's Sunday headline was "Hunger and hope, thirst and frenzy grip Haiti survivors."
 
With the exception of the last headline, which refers to Haiti directly, these same headlines would easily chronicle an earthquake-style disaster right here in our own Churchill neighborhood. I don't say this to be funny; I don't want to be needlessly dramatic. I mention it because what's happening in Haiti right now is tragic enough, but it would certainly be more so if we failed to learn from the tragedy of others and better prepare ourselves for a similar event.
 
The very premise of CERT training for disaster preparedness echoes through the Register Guard headlines. In 1985, when the LA Fire Department was first conceptualizing the need for Community Emergency Response Team training, they had similar headlines from the earthquake in Mexico City from which to learn.
 
The message is this:
1) aid will be slow in coming.
2) survival will depend on neighbors helping neighbors.
3) psychologically, disaster is an emotional roller coaster for even the strongest-willed person.
4) to prepare for disaster you have to plan and train for disaster.
5) have enough food and water to last a minimum of 72-hours, better to have a week's worth.
 
 
CERT training will be offered this year through the City of Eugene Emergency Planning Department. For more information, visit the following website:     cert@ci.eugene.or.us