Lower Cape Community Emergency Response Team Awards Three Top Performers

On Feb. 5, three local Lower Cape volunteers were honored with awards after dedicating over 55 hours of service this past year. 

The Brewster-Orleans-Chatham-Harwich Community Emergency Response Team (BOCH CERT) is a volunteer-run organization that helps to support local police and fire departments during emergency and non-emergency situations. They are trained under FEMA guidelines and add supplemental community support in situations like first responder support and rehabilitation, light search and rescue efforts, point of distribution facilitation, shelter operations, first aid and triage and general public safety support.

Brewster resident Jane Sullivan served 57 hours in 2025, earning the top volunteer spot. This was Sullivan’s fourth year earning the recognition out of her six years of service. She joined the team in 2019, during its inception. 

Lisa Havens of Harwich earned second place with 56 hours of service last year. She joined the CERT team a little over a year ago and “quickly stood out as an essential member,” said Operations Officer Corey Barker. 

Chatham resident Victoria Chane earned 55 hours of service in 2025. She joined the team in 2019 as a plank-owner with her husband and sits on the bylaws and policy committee, which is essential in building and growing the BOCH CERT organization.

Currently the group has over 40 volunteers. 

Chane said locals and visitors can likely see the volunteers during events like Chatham’s Fourth of July parade, in which they are helping direct traffic and mitigate issues. Much of their work in the beginning of the organization was COVID-19 driven, she said. 

“I’m helping the community and I’m working with people that I really respect,” said Chane. 

Chane said while many people aren’t aware the organization even exists, they are likely familiar with their outfits, which are referred to as the “lime popsicle outfit.” 

Just recently, the group was asked to run a training exercise to see how fast they could set up a complete shelter. Chane said they were able to assemble everything in under an hour. In February, they will complete a “stop the bleed” training. 

“Most of us are retired, but not all,” said Chane. “We have bankers, teachers, parents and all sorts of people that participate in this.” 

The BOCH CERT team is always looking for volunteers. More information can be found online at boch-cert.org or via email at contact.us@boch-cert.org.