Ken Wolnik, Jr. has been named as the Director of the North Royalton Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). According to Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz, Wolnik took over the post on July 10.
Wolnik is replacing Nick Phillips who retired from the post. Phillips held that position since the group’s inception, in 2003. The North Royalton CERT was established through the encouragement of the U.S. Congress, under the auspices of the Secretary of Homeland Security and FEMA. The volunteer-based organization was formed to assist the community in the event of a disaster. “Being a CERT member is truly a noble calling,” said Phillips. “Our motto has always been “train and wait.”
According to the City’s website, “the City of North Royalton’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of resident volunteers that would be called upon locally during serious emergency situations to augment the City’s public safety capabilities. The group is called upon for special events and crowd control such as the annual North Royalton Community Festival. CERT’s goal is to enlist approximately 200 resident volunteers to assist in any disaster, which could strike or impact North Royalton. . . Volunteers are needed to staff the many duty stations within our City disaster plans. Residents interested in volunteering for service in the North Royalton CERT will be assigned to positions where their experience, training or job skills can be best used.”
For those residents who are interested in becoming a member of the North Royalton CERT, they must be over 18 years of age and in good general health. “At this time, there is an emphasis on employment or experience in the following areas: Medicine (doctors, nurses, pharmacy, medical records), Construction (skilled trades, hazmat), Transportation (commercial drivers with large vehicle experience), Communications (computers, data entry, foreign languages), Supervision (teachers, security, military) and Food Service. Civic organizations, church groups, clubs or groups of employees from local businesses are encouraged to apply as well,” according to City officials. Those who wish to apply may contact the Mayor’s office at 440-238-5686, or go to the City’s website, www.northroyalton.org, under the Fire Department tag and follow the prompts to the CERT page.
“I thank Nick for 23 years in this post, where he kept, maintained and created one of the best in the county and in northeast Ohio,” said Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz. “I look forward to Ken bringing new energy into the group. With new people come new ideas that will help keep CERT as one of the best in Cuyahoga County.”
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
