The Twenty-eight community members who graduated, have successfully completed a nine-week, 27-hour disaster preparedness program designed to equip residents with the knowledge and skills to assist in emergency situations.
The CERT program, coordinated by the City’s Office of Emergency and Disaster Management, provided participants with hands-on and classroom training in a wide range of topics, including:
- Home and family disaster preparedness
- Incident command
- Fire suppression
- Utility control
- Weather spotting
- Disaster medical operations
- Disaster mental health
- Light search and rescue
“This graduation marks an important milestone for Joliet’s emergency preparedness efforts,” said John Lukancic, Director of the Office of Emergency and Disaster Management. “We are incredibly proud of our first CERT class. These individuals have shown a deep commitment to serving their neighbors and being ready to support our community in times of crisis. Their dedication strengthens Joliet’s overall resilience and sets a powerful example for others.”
The graduates are Diethard Beyer, Chelsea Bowen, Gerry Billon, Magdalena Campos, Tim Carlin, Don Ciesielski, Margaret Colabuono, Sue Fordyce, Brent Fraser, Flor Fuentes, Katie Fyksen, Annmarie Grooms, Stephanie Hook, Bob Horn, LeShae Hudson, Gina LoGalbo, Bill McCue, Jesus Najera, Joe Nordman, Clayton Pape, Patty Petersen, Sherri Reardon, Jim Richards, Jay Ringo, Carolina Schneider, Mary Frances Seeley, Bobby Shakespeare, Jr., and Phyllis Wilhelm.
The next free CERT class will begin on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, with additional sessions offered on Saturday, June 14, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Residents interested in learning more or registering can visit www.joliet.gov/cert.
