CERT Volunteers Recognized For Oil Spill Work

Members of Santa Barbara County Community Emergency Response Team are being recognized for responding to the Refugio Oil Spill May 19.

CERT volunteers dropped their Memorial Day weekend plans to respond to the spill that came from a corroded pipeline owned by Plains All-American Pipeline.

Some volunteers received extra training to learn how to clean the beach, while others helped at the command post and campgrounds. They also helped train spontaneous volunteers.

Staff members from the Govorner’s Office of Emergency Services visited Goleta on Friday to acknowledge the service of 22 volunteers who worked hundreds of hours.

Stella Larson said she would rather volunteer than sit back and watch a disaster in her own community.

Jim Caesar, UCSB emergency manager, recommends joining a recognized group to help speed up the response. Caesar said the next CERT training will be held August 18-20 at University of California Santa Barbara.

For more information go to, http://emergency.ucsb.edu/eppdf/August_CERT_2015.pdf