From: Opoka, James [james.opoka@dhs.gov]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 8:55 AM
To: Mary Jean Erschen; Alonzo Chapman; Ann DeMeuse; Bob Severson; Brenda Lutz-Hanson; Brian Smith - Home; Brian Smith; David Maack; David Maack; Dianna Bower; Fred Camacho; Fred Camacho; Gerry Sallmann; Jaci Haley-Renaud; Jan Beyer; Judy Billington; Kim Jack; Kim Jack; Lawrence Jones; Leslie home; Leslie UWL; Marcie Wycoff-Horn; Michael Newton; Molly Andrews; Pat Sanchez; Randy Eichman; Richard Shold; Tom Eithun; Tom Krueck_DMA; bevmvc@gmail.com
Cc: Jim Opoka
Subject: RE: READY/SERT Class at Wings - Success Story!

Awesome story that shows what we are doing really makes a difference!

 

Congratulations!  Everyone involved should be very proud of these kids and the people who trained them.

 

Thank you for helping to build a “culture of preparedness” in this country and making such a wise investment in our future generations.

 

Jim Opoka

 

Regional Program Manager

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Preparedness Directorate

Office of Community Preparedness – Citizen Corps

c/o FEMA Region V

536 South Clark Street

Chicago, Illinois 60605

 

Office   312-408-5584

Cell     202-306-6893

James.opoka@dhs.gov

 

www.citizencorps.gov

 

 


From: Mary Jean Erschen [mailto:mjerschen@cehss.org]
Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 8:39 AM
To: 'Alonzo Chapman'; 'Ann DeMeuse'; 'Bob Severson'; 'Brenda Lutz-Hanson'; 'Brian Smith - Home'; 'Brian Smith'; 'David Maack'; 'David Maack'; 'Dianna Bower'; 'Fred Camacho'; 'Fred Camacho'; 'Gerry Sallmann'; 'Jaci Haley-Renaud'; 'Jan Beyer'; 'Judy Billington'; 'Kim Jack'; 'Kim Jack'; 'Lawrence Jones'; 'Leslie home'; 'Leslie UWL'; 'Marcie Wycoff-Horn'; 'Michael Newton'; 'Molly Andrews'; 'Pat Sanchez'; 'Randy Eichman'; 'Richard Shold'; 'Tom Eithun'; 'Tom Krueck_DMA'
Cc: Jim Opoka
Subject: READY/SERT Class at Wings - Success Story!

 

Hi everyone,

Another amazing story of how the students that we have trained helped in an emergency situation at their school!  The explosion that Bev is talking about happened this past week on December 6th – for more information about the explosion which killed 3 people and injured 46, see the news clip at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16072816/

 

The other amazing part of this story is that some of these students have cognitive and developmental disabilities.  Some of them are autistic.  The instructors reported how it was so amazing to see how the students excelled in throughout the SERT class that was held at Wings Academy in early October and this proves that even with their disabilities, they are able to help in many ways during times of crisis!

 

Thanks again to our entire team for all that you do to help our students and schools succeed!  As I’ve mentioned many times before, we will never know the impact that we’ll have on the lives of youth!  In this case, it also had an impact on the staff and residents of the convent which is housed above the school!  The students not only took action, but also provided emotional support!  That is so awesome! 

 

Mary Jean

 

Mary Jean Erschen, RN, BSN - Director

Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness

Homeland Security School and Youth Initiatives

Phone:  (608) 592-5200

Cell:  (608) 212-5381


From: Bev Mantey [mailto:bevmvc@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2006 12:03 PM
To: mjerschen@cehss.org
Subject: SERT Team @ Wings

 

 

     Mary Jean

 

     Hi -- Just a quick note to up date on the SERT team at Wings. I trust most have heard of the Falk explosion. That event took the power out of our school. Our school is in the basement and things became very dark. We needed to evcauate the children from the basement to someplace of light and we didn't know about the air quality outside due to the fire. We had SERT kids in several rooms and the response from the teachers on how they reacted was great. These kids stepped up and told the classes they needed to remain quiet to hear directions. These same students went over to some of the special needs students we have and started talking with them to tell them all will be ok. As we moved our students to above ground and just for space reasons had to regroup staff and kids. The teachers asked who had SERT training and then assigned these students to groups in the room. They were told the job was to assist with anyone in the group to help them remain calm and to "take charge" that all was quiet and directions could be heard. Board games were brought to the various locations and they made sure the games were played fairly and all had proper turns etc.

 

           Without power the elevators of course don't work. The convent houses 2 floors of elderly Sisters. They come to first floor for their lunch. On this day the SERT kids delivered food to the third and fourth floor carrying hot pans- paper plates whatever was needed for the meal. On each floor they were met by another Sisters who made the delivery to the rooms.

 

           The Sisters were very pleased and the staff was pleased at how the kids stepped up on their own. The kids are proud of what they did also.

 

           We are having emergency lights installed in the basement as I write this note.

 

           Thanks again for the training. Sorry the up date got a little long.

 

           Peace.

 

 

 

 

 

Mary Jean Erschen, RN, BSN - Director

Center for School, Youth and Citizen Preparedness

Homeland Security School and Youth Initiatives

Phone:  (608) 592-5200

Cell:  (608) 212-5381