CERT Seeks Volunteers

Springfield's newest volunteer group is looking for new members.

Springfield's Community Emergency Response Team has been active in response to community emergencies, most critically Sandy. They are currently looking for new members. For information on getting involved, read the notice below.  ---------------------------- Care about Springfield? Join the Springfield CERT Team The Community Emergency Response Team program teaches disaster preparedness and response skills. We encourage diverse talents and accept flexible commitments. To find out more about CERT and how you can help Springfield, contact the SpringfieldOffice of Emergency Management. Supply your name, address, phone and number, and email address. Springfield Office of Emergency Management 200 Mountain Ave., Springfield, NJ 07081 Phone: 973-…

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Hurricane Sandy

Preparing for a Disaster: 5 Things to Do, Just in Case

Everybody knows to have candles and batteries, but what else should you have on hand?

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy. Will you be a day of rough seas and great beach combing or a power-outing-roof-ripping-basement-flooding monstrosity? No one really knows for sure, so we'll take precautions, starting with these five tips courtesy of FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Authority, which has built an extensive website to help citizens plan and prepare. Ready.gov offers instructions on how to ready your family, your home, your car and even your business for an emergency. The site includes tips specific to disasters common in our area such as hurricanes, home fires and blackouts. Here are five things Patch found that can help you get ready: 1.  Build a tailor-made kit You're smart enough to build a kit with food and water, but FEMA …

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OEM Coordinator John Cottage Retires

Cottage leaves post after 38 years on the job.

After starting with the Office of Emergency Management in high school, John Cottage spent almost half a century with the OEM. Cottage served as OEM Coordinator with 38 Mayors, four police chiefs and nine fire chiefs. His predecessor, Saul Freeman, was coordinator for 18 years. With longtime deputy coordinator Scott Seidel taking over as coordinator, Springfield has had three coordinators in 56 years. In conversation, now coordinator emeritus Cottage marveled at the continuity for the appointed position, which in other New Jersey towns changes over every year. “For me, that’s an unbelievable statistic for Springfield,” Cottage said.  Cottage credited the steadiness to the caliber of volunteers the coordinators have been worked with. “We …

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