In Case of Emergency: Orange's CERT Volunteers at Firemens' Carnival

For carnivalgoers who needed assistance over the past three days, it was easy enough: just look for the neon yellow garb worn by police, fire and other volunteers. Alongside police and fire, one of the strongest presences at the carnival comes from Orange's Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT), the all-volunteer organization set up to come to Orange's aid in case of an emergency.

"We're here to maintain a presence in case anyone needs us," says CERT team leader Al Mushin. "Our yellow shirts stand out like the police department. We're trained in first aid, and other things that can assist police and fire, and basically we're just here to keep an eye on things."

Fortunately, Mushin says, emergency incidents have been sparse at the carnival this year. Mostly, he says, CERT members help carnivalgoers with questions like "Where are the raffle tickets?" and "Where are the restrooms?" But their job is to be ready: all CERT members are trained in accordance with standards from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Incident Mangement System (NIMS.) That includes first aid and search-and-rescue.

Mushin and other CERT volunteers, including Anne Davis, rotate between patrolling the carnival and shifts at Incident Command, the tent in the southeast corner of the carnival that serves as CERT's command center.

"To keep it all together, you need a command center," says Davis. "So someone's always here with a radio. We check out in the field to make sure if people are here."

Davis agrees with Mushin: "At the carnival, it's usually very quiet," she says. "Occasionally, we may get a report of a lost child. But we're here to back up the police, back up fire, that's what CERT's all about anyway: an extra pair of hands, an extra pair of eyes."