|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spartanburg County CERT
Spartanburg County CERT
Copyright © 2006 "www.spartanburgcert.org" · All Rights reserved
 ACTIVATIONS
2009 MARCH 2-3, 2009 - RED CROSS/CERT SHELTER ACTIVATION MARCH 11, 2009 - FUNERAL PRECESSION - TRAFFIC CONTROL MARCH 17-18, 2009 - MISSING PERSON SEARCH MAY 2009 - TRAFFIC/CROWD CONTROL ACTIVATIONS JUNE 25, 2009 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION AUGUST 10, 2009 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION AUGUST 21, 2009 - MISSING PERSON AUGUST 29, 2009 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION SEPTEMBER 11, 2009 - CERT MEMBERS SAVES LIFE NOVEMBER 17, 2009 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION DECEMBER 15, 2009 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION
|
| CERT ACTIVATIONS - 2008 |
|
MARCH 2-3, 2009 -
RED CROSS/CERT SHELTER ACTIVATION
I would like thank the following CERT volunteers who worked in the shelter: Tony Craig, Cherise Crosby, Bill Leeder, Mary McAbee, Richard McAbee, and Marge Woodruff. In addition to these volunteers, I would also like to thank the following volunteers who agreed to show up but were asked to stay home due to the lack of shelter clients: Doug Martin, Sam Etheredge, Lisa Moore, and Debbie Tate (also, I would like to thank Mike Tate for providing free breakfast at his Cedar Springs Hardees). All in all, it was a huge success and I hope you enjoy a few of the photos I took. In addition to the photos, the media coverage is below: |
|
MARCH
11, 2009 - FUNERAL PRECESSION - TRAFFIC CONTROL
I would like to thank the following CERT members who volunteered their time to carryout traffic control duties in the Una and Arcadia communities: Derek Bailey, Eric Bremer, Arif Chaudhary, Barbara Grudzien, Bobbie Grudzien, Antonio Craig, James Dorsey, Jared Foster, Doug Martin, John Phillips, and Dave Walters. Feel free to check out a few of the pictures I took. Once again, we were very honored to provide this service. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hadden family. To learn more about Mr. Hadden, read this great article by LEE G. HEALY:
|
|
MARCH 17-18, 2009 - MISSING PERSON SEARCH On 3/17/09, Spartanburg County CERT Support Services assisted First Responders with the search for 2 year old William Eschenbach. Several CERT SAR Tech members assisted with the search while other SAR Tech members ran support services. Unfortunately, after 20 hours of searching, William's body was found. While this was not the result anyone wanted, I wanted to take a moment to thank the following CERT Members/Business that donated and/or supported our Rehab Unit during this activation: Businesses:
CERT Members: Matt Andrews (both days - rested in car), Paul Barriage, Bill Bomar, Michael Brooks, Ted Button, Wendell Button, Mike Carkhuff, Marie Chaney, Bruce Cook. Antonio Craig (both days - rested in car), William Culver, Tina Eller, Sam Etheredge, Teresa Foster (both days), Barbara Grudzien (both days), Bob Grudzien, Steve Harry, Tim Jamison (both days), James Lockaby (both days), Bill Leeder (both days), Doug Martin (both days), Kim Maybin (both days), Robert McKee, Doug Nissley (both days), John Peeler (both days). Beverly Tonkovic, Mike Tolman, and Dave Walters
Including myself, 29 CERT members were part of this activation. Many of these 29 CERT members participated in both days of the search. While we were only a small part of the puzzle, we we're honored that the Eschenbach family recognized our efforts (in a letter), along with the efforts of so many other great organizations that came together during this event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Eschenbach family. To view their thank you letter, click here. |
|
MAY 2009 - TRAFFIC CONTROL ACTIVATIONS
While there were slow periods throughout the day, Spring Fling kept everyone busy. All in all, we've continued to progress and expand CERT's capabilities. As we approach the midway point of 2009, CERT is excited about what lies ahead for the program.
|
|
6/25/09 - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION
|
|
8/10/09 & 8/11/09 - BRUSH FIRE - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION
|
|
On 8/21/09, the Spartanburg CERT Rehab and Search & Rescue Units were activated very briefly in response to a missing person off Hwy 292. Shortly after arriving on-scene, the gentleman was found safe and sound. Since this was a very short activation, no pictures were taken at the scene. |
|
8/29/09 - APARTMENT FIRE - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION
|
|
9/11/09 - CERT MEMBER PULLS MAN FROM BURNING TANKER
The picture you see above is from a wreck that occurred on North Pine St during the early morning hours of 9/11/09. For those who don't know, a logging truck was unable to clear a bridge, therefore losing logs in the road. The driver of the dump truck, Joe Tonkovic, stopped, turned his blinkers on, and shortly thereafter was hit from behind by a Tanker Truck (based on the accident, the Highway Patrol feels the Tanker Truck was going 70mph). Joe, a long time member of the CERT program, could do nothing but hold on as his dump truck turned over and spun around several times. Despite going on the ride of his life, Joe was able to exit the truck and upon exiting, heard the driver of the tanker truck screaming as his rig was engulfed in flames. What Joe did next was miraculous (considering he was part of the accident) and heroic. To learn more, please read the following article:
Driver pulls man from burning tanker truck By
Craig Peters
|
|
11/17/09 - MARTEX FIBER - SUPPORT SERVICE ACTIVATION
|
|
12/15/09 - FUEL SPILL - SOUTHPORT RD - SUPPORT SERVICES ACTIVATION
|
Upon activating a shelter at St.
Lukes United Methodist Church, the American Red Cross requested
assistance from Spartanburg County CERT and we were thrilled to assist.
While only 1 family took advantage of the shelter, both agencies worked
well togher in providing a worthwhile service to the community. 
Robert
"Buddy" Dillard Hadden, 73, died March 8 after a brief battle with
cancer. His last fire call with the Una Fire Department - where he
served for 52 years - was three weeks prior. He was laid to rest
on March 11, 2008. Spartanburg County CERT was honored to assist
with Traffic Control for Buddy's precession. 
For
three consecutive weeks, the Spartanburg County CERT program has been
asked to assist with two 5k Benefit Runs and lastly, assist with Crowd
and Traffic Control at this year's Spring Fling. While all three
events are great learning experiences, the Spring Fling Event will
probably prove the most beneficial (still have one 5k run to go).
During Spring Fling, 24 CERT volunteers gave of their time and energy to
support local law, fire and EMS personnel. During this time, CERT
members done the following:
Directed
Traffic
Spartanburg
CERT Rehab responded to a submersion call on 6/25/09.
Deputies, EMS, Fire Marshal's Office and several fire
departments responded to the area. One group of first
responders assembled near the intersection of River Road and
Stonewall Drive, and the command center was set up on
Dewberry Road. While the initial call out was for CERT
SAR and Rehab, this was strictly a Rehab operation.
Unfortunately, the end result was not a positive one.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Davis family.
On
8/10/09, the CERT Support Services Team was activated for the third time
this year. This activation was in response to a brush fire off Hwy
101. I would like to thank Marge Woodruff and Joe Tonkovic for
responding to quickly to this emergency. I was thrilled with our
response time and on how quickly we setup and tore down. CERT made
such a great impression, we were activated again the next
day when the brush fire rekindled. This time, I would
like to thank Bob Grudzien, Barbara Grudzien, and Tony Craig
for their assistance. A few
pictures from this event have been posted in the photo
gallery. In addition, media coverage from this event
can be seem below:
Spartanburg
CERT Rehab responded to an Apartment fire at Whispering
Pines on 8/29. I would like to to thank the following
CERT members for responding: Tony Craig, Sam Etheredge, and
Johnny Tucker. Considering the time of morning, we
responded very quickly and were on scene for about 2 hours.
During that time we provided support for those on scene.
Our thoughts and prayers are with those displaced by this
terrible event.
The
Spartanburg County Support Services Unit was called out in
response to the Martex Fiber Fire in Croft. The Rehab
Unit was on scene for 14 plus hours. During that time,
the following 9 CERT Volunteers assisted with Support
Services: Thomas Brown, Antonio Craig, Barbara Grudzien, Bob
Grudzien, Becky Grudzien, Bobby Grudzien, Mark McClure,
Robbie Swofford, Debbie Tate, Mike Tate. Since so many
CERT members responded to the initial tone out, no further
assistance was needed. 
The
Spartanburg County Support Services Unit was called out in
response to a Fuel Spill on Southport Rd. The Rehab
Unit was on scene for 7 plus hours. During that time,
the following CERT Volunteers assisted with Support
Services: Tony Craig, Barbara Grudzien, Mike Tate, and
Debbie Tate. During this response, the following
restaurants/stores were so gracious to donate food/snacks
for all of he first responders on scene:
