LES is more for Brooklyn CERTs

Four Brooklynites were lauded by the New York City Office of Emergency Management on Wednesday, May 13 for going above and beyond in wake of the March 26 East Village explosion and building collapse at Seventh Street and Second Avenue in Manhattan.

Bay Ridge residents William Vitale and Janet Perry, Coney Island resident Eric Hébert and East Flatbush resident Patricia Mendoza were among 83 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers honored at the event, held at Middle Collegiate Church in Manhattan, for spending more than two weeks assisting with operations at the scene of the building collapse and at the Reception Center. Their duties included perimeter security, language interpretation, resident escorts and data collection.

“These CERT volunteers sacrificed their time and efforts to help the East Village community recover from a tragic event, and we’re very grateful for their service,” said NYC Emergency Management Commissioner Joseph Esposito. “The volunteers used their training to show what being a New Yorker is all about, selflessly helping friends, family, neighbors, even strangers, when necessary.”

“In a time of emergency, our city truly comes together and is resilient. The 83 CERT volunteers exemplify what courage and leadership truly looks like,” echoed New York City Councilmember Rosie Mendez. “We need more New Yorkers like the ones who volunteered their time and efforts to help the East Village recover from this unfortunate and devastating event.”

The city’s CERT program began in 2003 with 106 volunteers and, today, has more than 50 teams and more than 2,000 active volunteers representing all five boroughs.