Disaster Preparedness Organization COAD Closed Down

I was fortunate to have gone through the last CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Training that COAD sponsored before their funding was cut and operations were shut down. I applaud their efforts and their training programs. The employees of COAD will be greatly missed by many in the emergency response field due to their committment to train as many First Responders as possible and the networking opportunities afforded through their workshops and seminars. The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. As we have seen by many national disasters, we cannot always count on our city's emergency professionals to be on the scene as quickly as we might like. More and more, we should be able to help ourselves and our neighborhoods and the CERT training certainly addresses that.

Fortunately, CERT training is still available through other cities. I highly recommend the training this program provides and the disaster awareness it instills. To find a CERT program near you, go to www.citizencorps.gov

I am passing on the e-mail from the Interium Executive Director:

COAD has shutdown all operations...

Unfortunately, due to recent financial difficulties the Board of Directors has decided to shut down all of COAD’s operations, discontinue our volunteer programs, and end our current fund development strategy.  COAD will not dissolve completely but will instead exist only as a Board of Directors who meets on a regular basis to discuss local emergency management issues and plans. 

Therefore effective immediately COAD will no longer be providing any of the core services you have come to expect including: Community Outreach and Education including CERT Training, Volunteer Management, Resource Management, and Community Planning and Recovery.   

The Southeast WI Medical Reserve Corp will be merged with the Wisconsin Disaster Medical Response Team (WDMRT) MRC unit, which is housed out of the Fox Valley area.  The MRC will continue to remain active in Southeastern WI and will provide support to local emergency management during exercises and emergencies/disasters under the WDMRT.  Racine County also operates its own MRC unit; please contact them if you are interested in joining a local unit based in SE WI.   

COAD will no longer provide CERT Training or operate a CERT Volunteer Program in Waukesha, Milwaukee, and Ozaukee Counties.  Milwaukee County may provide CERT Training in the future, please contact Milwaukee County Emergency Management this summer to find out the status of CERT Training in Milwaukee. 

On behalf of the Board of Directors and all of COAD I want to thank you for your time, consideration, and support over the years.  Though COAD’s operations are coming to an end, we are proud of the success the organization has achieved; success which was only made possible through the support of our volunteers, partners, and associates like you.     

Please keep in mind the COAD Board of Directors will not be providing any services to the public and will only meet quarterly therefore their ability to answer your correspondences will be very limited.     

Thank you for your support.

Rob Kraemer
Interim Executive Director