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Newport safety specialist being honored

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The White House on Tuesday will honor a member of the Newport Beach Fire Department for his efforts in preparing volunteers to help the city respond to a disaster, according to a news release.

Matt Brisbois, a life safety specialist with the Fire Department, has overseen the Community Emergency Response Team program in Newport Beach since 2006.

He will receive an award at the Washington, D.C., ceremony, along with 17 others from across the country, as a Champion of Change for Community Preparedness and Resilience.

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The Newport Beach CERT program, which began in 1999, offers education in areas such as first aid, survival training and HAM radio communicaion.

A core group of volunteers has worked with Brisbois to develop

“events, programs and training opportunities that resulted in stronger, more resilient and adaptive volunteers who now feel empowered to affect change throughout the city.”

CERT board member Karen Tringali will attend the awards ceremony along with Brisbois. The CERT Volunteer Board of Directors formed in 2011.

Those interested can view a live-streaming of the event on the White House web page at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday. It will also be shown at that time in the Newport Beach Central Library.

President Obama has proclaimed September National Preparedness Month.

—Emily Foxhall

Twitter: @emfoxhall

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