Ranch CERT elects new officers

The Lakewood Ranch Community Emergency Response Team has new board members and officers.

Richard Zimmerman, Carol O’Brien and Robert Thompson will be the organization’s newest board members.

Zimmerman, a new member of CERT, will serve as board treasurer. O’Brien, a five-year member of CERT, will be in charge of CERT’s Logistics and Medical committees. Thompson has been a member of CERT for about one year.

New officers will be: John O’Brien, president; Vicky Horswood, vice president; Richard Zimmerman; and Marilyn Kline, secretary.

“The new members of the Board will bring fresh ideas to carry Lakewood Ranch CERT to the next phase of our growth,” Horswood said.

Lakewood Ranch CERT is part of Manatee County’s disaster response network and was formed to enable neighbors to help each other following disasters where professional first responders may be delayed in reaching residents.

Team members are trained and equipped to administer emergency first aid, conduct light house-by-house search and rescue and to organize their neighborhoods during an emergency. They also have radio contact with their teammates and with the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center.

Lakewood Ranch CERT is seeking more volunteers to ensure it can assist the entire Lakewood Ranch community in times of disaster.

For more information, email  [email protected].

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].