Chandler relief team activated to assist in Fla. hurricane recovery

Chandler’s Emergency Relief Team has been activated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assist in relief efforts in Florida following the devastating effects of hurricane Frances. 

The team left Sept. 7 to fly to Georgia, where the members were to be sworn in and receive training from FEMA as community relations officers. They were to be deployed into the field for at least two weeks, most likely in those areas affected by Frances.

The CERT teams have received different levels of training, including how to provide assistance in the event of a natural disaster like a hurricane. Team members are volunteers from all types of occupations, and when they are not rendering aid during critical events, they are active in assisting the fire department in other public service programs.

Those who were activated include:

Batt. Chief Paul Sullivan, who coordinates CERT for the Chandler Fire Department as the emergency preparedness coordinator, and citizen volunteers Walt Schuknecht, James Spindler, Richard Iangevin, and Jeff Burton.

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