EDGEWATER, Fla. – Edgewater residents are coming together to create an emergency response team in the wake of flooding from recent hurricanes and storms.
Resident Heather Bendl told News 6 they are working with FEMA to create the emergency response team through FEMA’s program called “CERT.” It trains volunteers in fire safety, disaster medical operations, and light and search rescue.
Bendl said about 40 people have expressed interest in joining the team.
Storms and the flooding in the city, especially in the Florida Shores area, have been a point of concern for many residents in recent years.
“There’s people who aren’t begging for help. They don’t know how to reach out,” said resident Kimberly Penny.
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Penny said her home and yard have flooded in hurricanes and even thunderstorms. After Hurricane Milton last month, she saw the help that was needed and that first responders were stretched thin. She is ready to volunteer.
“If we can’t not flood them, we have to figure out how to help them because some people don’t have family to help,” she said.
As part of the CERT program, once volunteers pass a background check, they will be trained and equipped to help in any natural disaster or mass casualty event.
“If the city’s not taking the action, just making the plans, then we’ve got to take the action,” she said.
The city’s fire department is going to sponsor the CERT program for the residents so FEMA can come in, but that doesn’t mean the city is paying for it. Bendl said they are now in the process of finding a lawyer to help them become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Then, they can apply for grants and get sponsors to help pay for equipment.
“Fifteen years ago, we had one within the city of Edgewater and it dissolved, so I’m proud to say and see them starting this back up. It’s so needed in our community,” said Mayor Diezel Depew.
Depew also said the city manager does have a plan in place now to address infrastructure and the flooding issues.
On Monday night, the city will also be hosting a town hall meeting for residents to voice concerns, moreso than they can at council meetings, and talk about the plans.
“I’ve gone through it. I know what they feel. I know their feelings and I feel terrible cutting them off at three minutes. This is their chance to speak, to ask any kind of questions to the manager and I. I felt it was needed in the community,” Depew said.
Anyone interested in volunteering can email SEVCERTTeam@gmail.com.
The town hall will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 18, at the Bella Vista Baptist Church, located at 3232 S. Ridgewood Ave.
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