Clovis teens receive award from FEMA

Clovis Emergency Manger Dan Heerding and Clovis High School’s Teen Community Emergency Response Team (Teen CERT) have received a Youth Preparedness Award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Region 6, according to news release from the Clovis/Curry County Office of Emergency Management.

Besides New Mexico, FEMA Region 6 includes Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.

According to the news release:

• To become members of Teen CERT, students must complete training in National Response Framework and Incident Command Systems, along with CERT basic training and their regular studies.

• The Teen CERT members have participated in multiple responder training exercises and have been deployed to three major community events.

• One Teen CERT member is credited with saving the life of his stepmother, using cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

In the news release, Heerding stated, “The team assisted and is a force multiplier for our 4th of July fireworks event and the Curry County Fair. Teen CERT teamed up with the Clovis Fire Department and assisted with any response during those events.”

Before winning the Region 6 award, the Clovis Team CERT team had been voted as state winners, according to the news release. They were rated as Region 6 winners by Region 6 Community Preparedness Working Group members and partners from each state.

An award presentation is expected to be conducted at a Clovis city commission meeting in coming weeks, the news release stated.