Leader named for emergency prep club

CERT

Catherine O’Brien is the new president of the LW Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Her predecessor Philip Mandeville, who founded CERT, died Sept. 6. Mandeville was 100% dedicated to the safety and well-being of all residents and was passionate about CERT.

At the CERT meeting Sept. 23, members acknowledge that the club will not be the same without him. They shared favorite stories of Mandeville, who was known for his humor, determination and unequaled depth of knowledge.

Every CERT member wanted to honor his memory and the consensus was that no one person could replace Mandeville, but that if each member gave an extra 1% effort, the CERT club could continue his legacy.

O’Brien joined CERT in 2020 to learn how she could help her 98 year-old dad, Dick O’Brien, be safe in the event of an emergency. Mandeville saw her potential and quickly asked her to join the CERT training team. O’Brien is a mental health counselor and has a strong background in management training for Marie Calendar Pie Shops. Her training classes are practical, fun and informative.

In 2023, CERT will share the “Safety Mindset” by offering monthly safety training classes to all residents.

These 45-minute hands-on classes are intended to give participants practical and useful safety information.

Topics range from situational awareness, how to use a fire extinguisher, water safety and disaster psychology.

All residents are invited to participate. CERT training sessions will be publicized in the LW Weekly.

“I have met the best people in CERT—funny, smart, dedicated, and willing to work together for a worthy cause” O’Brien said. “I am honored to work for this group. We will make Phil proud.”