David Williams, Deputy Coordinator O.E.M., East Orange, NJ
 
East Orange is a 4-square mile community with approximately 75,000 residents. We activated our first CERT team in December '03. Since then we have had two emergency activations and several non-emergency activations, including:
 
Feb-April '04:
 
CERT members recruited new members and assisted in training the new recruits. CERT members also assisted OEM instructors conduct emergency preparedness classes for the community.
 
May '04:
 
Memorial Day Parade - The team marched in the parade.
 
July '04:
 
Independence Day Festival - The team assisted the police with security at two gates and staffed an information post. We also assigned personnel to a mobile post to provide safety patrol and relief for team members.
 
August '04:
 
National Night Out: CERT members rode in four caravans that toured the city and joined in the "First Ward Family Night" in Soveral Park at the end of the evening.
 
Caribbean/American Festival - This event is in a large park. Many vendors set up booths and music/entertainment is provided. It draws several thousand guests. The members were "paired off". One team was assigned to the mobile command post. The other teams made walking "safety patrols" in the park. CERT assisted one person with a heat-related illness and several patrons with minor injuries.
 
Neighborhood Family Day at the Park - CERT members participated in the events which were held throughout the month of August in several neighborhood parks.