RAHWAY—The Rahway Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will now be better equipped to handle emergencies thanks to the help of a new flood response utility trailer supplied by the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (OEM).

Members of Rahway CERT Team, which is an all-volunteer unit, traveled to West Trenton on June 27 to pick up their new trailer. The flood response trailer is equipped with a generator, pumps and various tools needed during a flood event.

The City of Rahway is one of 15 Community Emergency Response Teams from across New Jersey to receive a specialized trailer, according to state officials.
Col. Rick Fuentes, State Police Superintendent and Director of the New Jersey OEM, said the Garden State is home to one of the nation's largest CERT programs, which has almost 19,000 volunteers organized into 432 teams.

"The program is robust because of citizen engagement, neighbor helping neighbor, a New Jersey tradition. We will continue to support our volunteers' efforts by equipping them with resources, such as the Disaster Response and Flood Response Utility Trailers," he said.

Rahway Police Chief and Office of Emergency Management director John Rodger said “The City of Rahway is committed to making the best possible resources available to our first responders. This trailer and associated equipment adds another dimension to our Flood Emergency Response team, and will be a tremendous benefit to the citizens of Rahway.

For information on The Rahway Cert/ Flood team please contact Detective William Eicholz at (732) 827-2079.

Photo caption: From left, Rahway Dep. OEM coordinator Timothy Dunn, Rahway CERT team leader John Pencak, Rahway CERT team leader Dave Stuart, NJ State Police Superintendant Rick Fuentes, and Detective William Eicholz Rahway CERT Team Coordinator receive a flood response trailer in West Trenton.