Town weighs citizen emergency‑response training; selectmen table decision pending legal and insurance checks

A presenter from the public health and safety committee told the Town of Griswold Board of Selectmen on June 9 that the committee would like the town to host a basic community emergency response training so residents can help themselves, their families and neighbors during storms, flooding and other emergencies.

The presenter described local examples and said the course is intended as an introductory, hands‑on orientation — not a full professional certification: "It is more of a hands‑on citizen engagement; you don't walk out with a certification," the presenter said. Organizers said FEMA or Red Cross instructors could provide follow‑up certification if residents wanted to pursue it.

Why it matters: Board members said trained volunteers could improve immediate on‑scene responses and community resilience after large incidents, but they repeatedly flagged liability, insurance and operational limits as concerns. The board emphasized that volunteer teams should operate only when activated by official emergency management and under command protocols to avoid confusing first‑responder roles.

Board reaction and next steps: Selectmen asked organizers to return with concrete information for a special meeting: a town‑attorney opinion, confirmation from the town's insurance carrier, contact details for regional coordinators and an interest list of residents willing to participate. "We need to verify coverage with the town's attorney and insurance company," one selectman said. Organizers agreed to seek input from the Red Cross, FEMA and the regional coordinator and to propose dates in late June for a follow‑up session.

What was decided: The board voted to table the discussion until its next regular meeting so staff and volunteers can collect the requested information. The motion instructed organizers to clarify whether the course is a noncertifying community orientation or an entry point to a certified search‑and‑rescue track, to provide approximate sign‑up numbers and to confirm any long‑term costs to the municipality.

Context and caveats: Speakers cited Red Cross guidance that full search‑and‑rescue training can include roughly 30 hours of instruction; several participants distinguished that longer certified tracks differ from the basic community engagement orientation being proposed. The presenter described prior community interest and earlier sign‑up efforts; organizers said previous outreach events produced roughly a dozen to a few dozen names but asked the board to request an accurate interest list before proceeding.

What comes next: Organizers will consult the town attorney and insurance administrator, confirm regional contacts and return to the selectmen with a written proposal and suggested special‑meeting dates. The board did not adopt or fund any program at this meeting.