The City of Auburn Emergency Management Office has announced the recent addition of seven new members to the area’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), bringing the total number of graduates in the local program to 513.

The seven new members graduated from the area’s 28th CERT course, representing the third year of High School CERT training and drawing on students from Auburn and Auburn Mountaiview high schools. Class 28 included 24 intensive hours of training over the course of the school year and culminated in a hands-on practical exercise simulating an earthquake.

Graduates of the class included: Elijah Green, Madeline Isham, June Pen, Jeffrey and Jonathan Taylor-Kantz and Jordan Yango from Auburn High, and William Norris from Auburn Mountainview High.

The next CERT class is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Aug. 20, running for three consecutive days from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Space is still available, though pre-registration is required. Information and applications for classes may be found on the City website at www.auburnwa.gov/disaster.

About CERT training

CERT training is composed of 24-plus hours of classroom education and hands-on practice in topics including disaster preparedness, emergency management, fire safety / suppression, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster communication, disaster psychology, and all-hazards identification and awareness.

Graduates have the opportunity to become registered emergency workers with their respective cities and the state of Washington, allowing them to aid in local and regional disasters. Graduates also have the opportunity to participate in local and regional continuing education activities, including training and field exercises.