(TNS) — When an emergency hits a town, whether a natural disaster or a major accident such as a chemical spill, first responders can sometimes become overwhelmed and need assistance themselves. That is when a Community Emergency Response Team can come in handy, to lend a hand to local fire, police and others.

This fall the Willmar, Minn., Police Department will be training its first Community Emergency Response Team, often referred to as CERT, with the long-term goal to train as many people as they can to help when needed.

“You can take care of yourself, your family and neighbors. Then you can respond and help out emergency responders,” Willmar Police Chief Jim Felt said.

For many years Willmar had People on Watch, a neighborhood watch-style group. After years of declining membership, the Police Department closed the group down and started looking for another way to get the community involved.

“Transition POW into something that could be multi-generational, something good for the community,” Felt said.

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http://www.govtech.com/em/preparedness/In-Case-of-Emergency–Community-Emergency-Response-Team-Members-Lend-a-Helping-Hand-in-Willmar.html