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EMA updates: CERT rodeo, preparedness open house and resiliency trailers
Summary
EMA coordinator B.J. Vork told the board on Sept. 23 that the agency updated its emergency plans, will host a CERT rodeo Sept. 27 and an open house Sept. 30, and that county resiliency trailers are complete and being deployed for outreach.
B.J. Vork, Linn County EMA coordinator, briefed the board on emergency management work and community preparedness on Sept. 23. He said staff updated several emergency plans this year (search & rescue SF9, firefighting SF4, Hazmat SF10 and public safety SF13) and listed recovery‑support planning assignments.
Vork invited the public to a CERT rodeo Sept. 27 at Lao Park in Marion and a community preparedness open house at Marion Fire Station 1 on Sept. 30 that will include hands‑only CPR and fire‑extinguisher training. He also announced a CERT basic training scheduled Oct. 10–12 at EMA and Marion Fire Station 1 and explained how residents can sign up via the Linn County Emergency Management website.
Vork described efforts to expand redundant communications through amateur radio and the Arden emergency data network that currently links EMA and Mercy Cedar Rapids phones, with plans to add St. Luke's and other county sites. He said the county submitted a MidAmerican Energy Foundation grant request for equipment and that resiliency/rapid trailers are complete and have been displayed at the Cedar Rapids farmers market to raise awareness.
Supervisors thanked EMA staff for the briefing; no board votes were recorded on these items.
