Tualatin CERT reports membership growth, readies mobile communications unit

The Tualatin Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) presented its 2024–25 annual report to the Tualatin City Council on Sept. 8, reporting increased volunteer capacity and progress on a volunteer-built mobile communications unit the group said will bolster neighborhood communications during emergencies.

CERT volunteers told the council the program now counts nearly 200 members and is expanding non‑cellphone communications as a hedge against outages. ‘‘We at this point have 195 members, 125 are active,’’ CERT President Kathy Holland said during the presentation. The group reported 83 licensed amateur radio (ham) operators and 64 users on General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) frequencies. A new basic class currently has 13 enrollees, the group said.

Why it matters: CERT is a volunteer emergency-preparedness network that the city funds and mobilizes for events and emergencies. Councilors and staff said building neighborhood radio networks and a mobile unit will help the city gather on‑the‑ground information if power and cell service fail.

Volunteers described three parallel radio strategies: low‑cost Family Radio Service (FRS) channels for neighborhood check‑ins, GMRS for broader local coordination using a city‑based repeater, and ham radio for longer‑range links. Andy Wilson and other volunteers explained plans to recruit neighborhood net control operators and to run regular practice nets so neighbors know how to check in and report safety or property issues.

CERT leaders also outlined the mobile communications unit (MCU), a trailer outfitted with solar panels, batteries and multiple radio systems. The group said the MCU was funded principally by a federal grant of about $10,000, supplemented by roughly $3,500 in donations and about $2,000 from CERT operating funds; volunteers performed the labor to outfit the trailer.

Members described public outreach and training scheduled in the coming weeks. The group plans an in‑person CERT fair this Saturday and an expanded set of neighborhood outreach activities, free preparedness workshops and bilingual materials. Alan, a volunteer training lead, said CERT will participate in a revived countywide CERT training day on Oct. 25; the county event will split roughly 60 participants among several regional venues for hands‑on triage, search and rescue and damage‑assessment exercises.

Councilors thanked CERT for its volunteer work and asked staff to continue integrating the group into city emergency planning. Council President Pratt said staff and council ‘‘know where we stand about saving trees’’ in response to an unrelated public comment, while Councilor Brooks and Councilor Hillier asked about integrating CERT plans with the city emergency plan and about GMRS refresher sessions. CERT said staff has copies of both CERT mobilization instructions and the city plan and that fuller integration is a work in progress.

The presentation included requests for (1) ongoing city coordination; (2) continued modest financial support for MCU equipment and training; and (3) volunteer time and technical help to run nets and neighborhood FRS/GMRS check‑in sessions. CERT members encouraged residents who want to help or learn to contact the group via its website and to attend the upcoming fair.