Tell us what classes you would like to attend and we will compile our data and pass it on to Florida institute of government once a

Past Presenters

Cape Coral Fire Chief Bill Van Helden

will present an overview of FEMA's

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program

Cape Coral has had an extremely active program going for several years, and it will be good to hear their stories and learn how it might be applicable for us. If you would like to do some advance research, I found the following websites

http://www.capecoral.net/citydept/fire/fr_cert.cfm

http://www.naem.com/connection/articles/hurricane.html

In addition, you can go to FEMA's website and get more details on how the program fits nationally.

The Chief

Bill Van Helden

William “Bill” Van Helden became a member of the Cape Coral Fire Department in 1996. Bill served as Division Chief in the Fire Department’s Administration and Operations Divisions until his appointment to Fire Chief and Emergency Management Director in August of 2002.

Bill has many significant contributions to the City of Cape Coral. He was diligent in overseeing the implementation of an Advanced Life Support (ALS) program for the City of Cape Coral. He was instrumental in the creation of the Cape Coral Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which is the first EOC in Southwest Florida to be operated by an individual city.

During the years prior to joining the Cape Coral Fire Department, Bill was Deputy Chief for the Lehigh Acres Fire Department and moved on to become the Deputy Director for Lee County Public Safety.

TOPIC: MINIMUM HOUSING INSPECTION PROGRAM
PRESENTER: FRANK CASSIDY, Code Officer 3, City of Ft Myers.

Frank brings extensive experience in code enforcement, his newest challenge
being the supervisor of the team for the North half of the City of Ft Myers.

Frank is in the process of soliciting ideas for a Minimum Housing Inspection
Program. He is bringing his thoughts, training and experience to our next
meeting and encourages any and all participation to build the program so SWACE
can become the forerunner at setting standards in this field.

Come prepared to learn this direction CE is taking, and to have input into
decisions as they are made.