(maps are available at https://pleasanthillcert.org/maps/).
In a disaster, CERT members who live in the area are deployed to help as needed. Each area has a volunteer coordinator who makes sure we are always ready to go. Meet Jim Hirahara who manages the Northwest Area.
Welcome, Jim!
Q: What positions do you hold with Pleasant Hill CERT?
Jim: I am the Pleasant Hill CERT Northwest Area Coordinator and Pleasant Hill CERT Ham Radio Coordinator
Q: How long have you been with CERT? How long have you been a coordinator?
Jim: I became a member of Pleasant Hill CERT beginning in 2003. I just recently began transitioning to become the NW Area Coordinator this year. I have been Ham Radio Coordinator for several years now.
Q: What are your duties as an area coordinator?
Jim: As Area Coordinator, I coordinate activities of CERT volunteers who reside in the Northwest Area of Pleasant Hill to assure their readiness to
safely respond to an emergency/disaster, such as a major earthquake. We are not first responders per se, but CERT volunteers are trained to help our neighbors by assessing injuries to people and property, performing light search and rescue operations, and providing basic first aid, all within the scope of our training. We do this in support of professional first responders such as police and fire, as well as Pleasant Hill City Officials when the City Emergency Operations Center is activated in an emergency. One of the key roles that I see the Area Coordinator carrying out is to build a strong core team of volunteers to organize around in a real disaster, and to reinforce and refresh their skills and teamwork through regular Area meetings. I also represent my Area on the Pleasant Hill CERT Steering Committee and the Pleasant Hill CERT Foundation.
Q: I can see you keep busy! What is your favorite part of the job and why?
Jim: I enjoy exercises where we practice responding to mock scenarios that allow us to test our various skills. It seldom goes according to plan, but
there are always lessons learned that help us improve for when a real disaster strikes.
Q: How are you handling the pandemic and lockdown? How does it affect your work for your CERT area?
Jim: The pandemic has put a real damper on getting up to speed as the new Northwest Area Coordinator. No Northwest Area Meetings have been
held, and I don’t envision them resuming any time soon. It might be possible to get creative with video conferencing, but my “Covid 19 Inertia” needs to be overcome first. I shudder at the thought of having to respond to a significant emergency if one were to occur in the midst of this pandemic, but I suspect many of us CERT volunteers will rise to the occasion to help our neighbors if and when the need arises. Unfortunately, I suspect that the degree to which we will be able to operate safely will probably limit our normal activities.
Q: Tell us your big dream: what would make your CERT area soar to great heights?
Jim: We have many individuals who have been trained as CERT volunteers, but not everyone has continued to be active in Area meetings and activities to keep their skills fresh and become engaged members of the Northwest Area Team. My hope is that we can attract past and future CERT trained volunteers to become engaged and build a strong Northwest Area Team that others will say absolutely fulfilled our Pleasant Hill CERT motto of doing “the greatest good for the greatest number” in response to a real emergency.
Thanks, Jim!
