The President’s Volunteer Service Award was recently presented to seven Sequim Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers by Clallam County Fire District 3 Chief Justin Grider.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes, honors and celebrates citizens who make a positive impact as engaged and profoundly committed volunteers.

The Silver Award, for those volunteers donating 250-499 hours to community service during a year went to Dale Fiorillo, Charles Meyer and Donna Stoffel.

The Golden Award, for those volunteers donating 500 or more hours to community service during a year was presented to Butch Zaharias, Linda Enger, Sherrel Miller and Ernylee Chamlee.

There are more than 500 CERTs within the district’s response area. Members learn to be prepared for disasters that can happen in the community. CERTs learn disaster response skills such as light search and rescue, fire safety, and medical operations. Through radio communications system, CERTs are able to share what is happening in their neighborhood with professional first responders so that they can best determine where help is needed.

As a CERT member, volunteers play an important role in helping people in their neighborhoods and/or workplaces before, during and after an emergency.

To become a CERT member, those interested attend an academy consisting of three Saturdays. Upon completion, members are assigned to a team located in their neighborhood that meet once a month to maintain and continue developing their skills.

For more about the CERT program, email Cindy Zechenelly at cert@ccfd3.org.