If  you have taken communication classes in Copley Hall you might know Virgil “Rusty” Norris, senior instructor of communication arts and humanities and adjunct faculty program coordinator of communication.

Norris is not just busy with classes and independent studies on campus but he also volunteers his time to the Independence, Mo., and East Jackson County Office of Emergency Preparedness.

In January, Norris was asked to take on leadership roles within the volunteer organization and he joined the Community Emergency Response Team.

When Rusty was young he was a boy scout and was raised in the scout tradition which is to always be prepared. He has held strong to those beliefs even as an adult, he said.

“Living in a rural community when I was young, I was able to assist on ambulance calls and learned first aid as part of that,” said Norris. “In high school, a friend and I helped people in a neighboring community evacuate during a flood.”

There have been two recent storms, which had a personal affect on Norris. In 2008 the town of Picher, Okla., was struck by a tornado.

Shortly after in the year 2011, Joplin, Mo., experienced the same disaster. Both storms hit communities relatively close to where Norris spent his childhood.

“Those events prompted me to look into being more personally prepared for disaster,” he said.

As he was searching for a way to be more involved in his own community he discovered CERT.  To be a CERT volunteer someone must go through extensive training which can take months. The training includes a basic training course, a course in search and rescue, basic firefighting as well as basic first aid and triage.

His new roles include coordinating the training for CERT volunteers, the Disaster Animal Recovery Team, DART; the Emergency Communication Service, ECS; and the Emergency Operations Center, EOC.

He has also had to complete certification for operating a HAM radio. Google defines HAM (handheld amateur radio) as, “amateur radio, also called ham radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectra for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training and emergency communication.”

The responsibilities within his new leadership positions are not only fulfilling a personal interest but will also help the volunteer organization with restructuring of the system.

“It’s about being prepared, helping others be prepared and training to respond in the event of a disaster,” said Norris

If you are interested in becoming a part of your community by volunteering for a local organization, it is important to figure out what you are passionate about first.

“If it clicks, then commit to it,” he said.

For more information on the Independence, MO and Jackson county CERT program you may contact Norris at [email protected].