Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical aid are sometimes unable to meet the demand for all of these services.
That is when the Central Texas Disaster Action Response Team (Cen-Tex DART) steps in.
You will typically find Cen-Tex Dart director Andrea Forte teaching Community Emergency Response Training.
"We work to encourage the community to be prepared for disasters. Primarily in our area that would be floods, wildfires, severe weather, but this counts as that," said Forte.
In an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19, training was put on hold.
However, Forte and her team are responding to a new kind of "disaster."
"We've made over 300 masks," said Forte.
The team recently donated hand sanitizer to first responders.
"It's fantastic. It will definitely help us out for sure," said Kelli Deans, station captain of the Levita Volunteer Fire Department.
The Levita Volunteer Fire Department drove all the way from Gatesville to Killeen to replenish their supply.
"We don't have any [hand sanitizer] at the fire station and that right there, that's going to be a tremendous amount of help," said Angelina Deans, a firefighter at the Levita Volunteer Fire Department.
The volunteer fire department was just one one of many who benefited from the good deed.
"We were able to deliver to several different places," said Forte. "One of our food banks here in town, both of our retirement/nursing rehabilitation centers, and then another location up on the North side of Killeen called The Front Door," said Forte.
Should COVID-19 restrictions be lifted, the team's next Community Emergency Response Training will be held September 18, 19 and 26.
The course teaches disaster preparedness at home and in the neighborhood, along with fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
