Trailer Estates CERT photos

Steve and Sharon Litschauer show Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) donated to Trailer Estates CERT by Ernie Withers of the Defibrillate Manatee Foundation. The story Ernie and his wife Cindy share is a compelling one that led to his philanthropic endeavor to provide defibrillators to non-profit organizations in Manatee County. He also became a certified CPR instructor and will hold a class on the Sarasota-Manatee Campus of the University of South Florida at 10 AM on June 7, 2025. Email Us to enroll in this free class.

Cedar Hammock Fire Department Chief Dr. Kyle R. Bradshaw gives an update to the community with a presentation on new marine rescue and drone technologies available to enhance their fire fighting and rescue missions in the county district before the regular meeting of the Trailer Estates CERT group on April 16, 2025.

Among the guests of the Trailer Estates CERT breakfast on April 14, 2025 was presenter Carol Felts, Manatee County Commissioner for District 1. Other guests included Manatee County At-Large Commissioner George Kruse who also spoke to the crowd. Trailer Estates District 4 was represented by Marianne Bejster, aide to commissioner Mike Rahn. Guests included members of the Cedar Hammock Fire Department, Chris Ralston of the Sheriff's office and Jim and Karen Emanuelson of the Lakewood Ranch CERT program. The next breakfast is scheduled for January 12, 2026.

Before the regular monthly meeting of CERT on March 19, 2025 Manatee County Deputy Chris Ralston presented some of the county initiatives to prevent crimes that residents and businesses face. Next month on April 16 before the regular meeting at 10 AM Cedar Hammock Chief Dr. Kyle Bradshaw will discuss safety in the home.

The American Red Cross traveled through Trailer Estates on March 15, 2025 to install smoke detectors in a program that was also promoted by CERT. Park manager Lee Morris (left) coordinated the program to install alarms in 89 homes within the community.

The CERT breakfast on March 10 was well-attnded by Trailer Estates residents and friends. Sam Samples of the American Red Cross discusses the services that the Red Cross provides to the community.

Sam Samples of the American Red Cross presents its programs before the regular meeting of Trailer Estates CERT on February 19, 2025. She will make another presentation to the attendees during the March 10 breakfast.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors with a good Breakfast - Another sold out CERT breakfast on February 10, 2025 in the Large Hall. A limited number of tickets for the next breakfast on March 10 will be sold at the Post Office on March 5 at 10 AM.

Sharon Litschauer demonstrates the new jaw thrust technique to open the airway for breathing. This presentation was performed in front of residents before the regular Trailer Estates CERT meeting on January 15, 2025. Click here for more information on this technique.

Residents line up for omelets in the well-attended CERT breakfast on January 13, 2025 in the Large Hall.

Trailer Estates CERT Director and CERT Instructor Laura Freese discusses the Trailer Estates
CERT organization at the Activity Fair in the Large Hall, January 11, 2025. Ticket sales for the February 10 breakfast start on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 10 AM to noon at the Trailer Estates Post Office until they are sold out.

On December 18, 2024, in Mark's Hall, Cedar Hammock Fire Department Chief Dr. Kyle R. Bradshaw speaks to CERT and guests about the district's plans to protect and serve the community.

Trailer Estates CERT team members assisted the Cedar Hammock Fire Department in their open house on November 16, 2024. A popular event was face painting with Dan Smith applying makeup to this young attendee.

CERT graduate class of November 15, 2024. Six graduates of the most recent CERT class received their diplomas from instructors (kneeling from left) Sharon Denson, Mary Lou Smith and Laura Freese.

Trailer Estates CERT supported resident relief with supplies donated to the Cedar Hammock Fire Department that were brought to Mark's Hall on October 20, 2024. Representatives from FEMA provided information and took applications to help residents recover from Hurricane Milton. Over 19 residents of Trailer Estates attended the event.

Following the category 3 Hurricane Yankee simulation drill, observers from other communities ask
questions in the CERT command center of Trailer Estates on April 23, 2024.

Trailer Estates CERT members Laura Freese, Steve Litschauer and Cynthia Murphy are photographed August 15, 2024 at the multi-day conference of the Florida CERT Association in Coral Gables, Florida. Steve Litschauer joined the National CERT Association and was voted in as a board member of the Florida Association of CERT.

Students of Stop The Bleed class broke into small groups to demonstrate one of the practical application of lessons on April 17, 2024.

Omelets to order, grits and sausage with gravy were hot servings for residents and guests of Trailer Estates as CERT members prepared breakfast on April 8, 2024. This was the last monthly breakfast of 2024, the next one is scheduled for January 13, 2025.

CERT members work behind the scenes in the kitchen for the community breakfast on March 11, 2024.

Sharon Denson leads a new February 2024 CERT class. A few short years ago Manatee County had nine CERT teams. Through training classes like these Manatee County has expanded its community teams to 19, a coalition of teams led by Sharon Denson.

Another well-attended CERT breakfast on February 19. The final breakfasts this season will be held March 11 and April 8.

Residents are served cinnamon rolls and Panera Bread rolls in the foreground, and biscuits with gravy along with six omelet stations in the background of this sold-out CERT breakfast on January 8, 2024. The next breakfast is set for February 19, 2024 as a schedule change due to a conflict on the Trailer Estates calendar. Breakfasts will resume their regular schedule on March 11 and April 8.

CERT in Manatee County expands its membership with 16 new graduates on November 18, 2023. They received certification from
trainers Mary Lou Smith and Sharon Denson. Also assisting were firefighting members of the
Cedar Hammock Fire District and communications by Tom Briggle, team leader of Trailer Estates CERT. We congratulate members of the Colony Cove community who will be starting their own CERT team.

Dan Smith, treasurer of the Trailer Estates CERT team, uses his art skills to paint a kitten face on a young visitor at the
Cedar Hammock Fire Control District Open House on October 14, 2023. The CERT team was on hand to park cars, grill and other projects of the well-attended event.

Fox 13 news reported by Kristin Moore on CERT training at Trailer Estates in a segment that aired July 21, 2023. Pictured is Tom Briggle who discusses communications within the community and to first reponders. Click here to view the segment.

Stephfon Ward of Fox 13 news interviews Sharon Denson, Manatee County CERT Coalition Leader and advisor to the
Trailer Estates CERT team, at the Hurricane Expo in the Manatee County Convention Center on May 18, 2023. INSET: Steve Litschauer,
Manatee County Emergency Management Chief, presented Trailer Estates CERT with a Certificate of Appreciation for providing public information at the 2023 Expo.

Manatee County Deputy Chris Ralston instructs residents of Trailer Estates the concept of
run, hide, fight in an active shooter situation on April 19, 2023.

Maintenance workers of Trailer Estates (foreground), Cedar Hammock firefighters and residents enjoy a
CERT breakfast on March 13, 2023. The next CERT breakfast is scheduled for January 8, 2024, the first in a series of four on the second Monday of every month through April.

CERT members from Trailer Estates act as victims and family members of a simulated plane crash with first responders from Manatee and Sarasota counties at SRQ on February 22, 2023 in the Passenger, Aircraft Disaster Response Exercise (PADRE) event.

Trailer Estates CERT team members Laura Freese and Mary Wadman assist residents register their emergency contact information at the Community Health Fair on February 22, 2023.

Residents of Trailer Estates enjoy made-to-order omelettes on the breakfast menu February 13, 2023.

Proud recipients of graduating CERT diplomas assemble January 26, 2023 at Trailer Estates.

Cedar Hammock Fire Control District representatives train a new class of CERT trainees on fire safety.

Sharon Litschauer explains procedures to stop bleeding at a Stop the Bleed class at
Trailer Estates organized by CERT on January 18, 2023.

Cedar Hammock Fire Control District members were among over 120 visitors to the CERT breakfast on January 9, 2023. New Fire Chief Kyle Bradshaw (left) spoke to the crowd.

Over 100 residents attended the CERT breakfast on December 12, 2022 in the large hall of Trailer Estates. Upcoming breakfasts in 2023 are scheduled for January 9, February 13 and March 13. Tickets will be sold at the post office the week prior to the breakfasts.

Mew members of CERT visit the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center on November 10, 2022.
Steve Litschauer, Deputy Director of Public Safety, is in the center at the podium.

Audience members at the Trailer Estates Movie Night check their address in the CERT database for the
most current information before viewing Top Gun, Maverick on November 5, 2022.

Trailer Estates CERT volunteers assist in parking automobiles at the retirement celebration of Cedar Hammock Fire
District Chief Jeff Hoyle at the Manatee County Fire Training Center in Bradenton on October 22, 2022.

Steve Litschauer, Deputy Director of Public Safety in Manatee County provides opening remarks at the monthly meeting of the Manatee
County Emergency Support Group at the Emergency Operation Center in Bradenton on August 23, 2022. Steve Park, president of MCESG (right) presided over the meeting.

Trailer Estates CERT team members pose for a photo after the Hurricane Danka drill on August 9, 2022.

The CERT team of Trailer Estates assisted Steve Litschauer, Deputy Manager at the Emergency Operations Center of Manatee
County, with hurricane and related literature. Members of the Manatee County Code Enforcement also coordinated the presentation
to residents of Bayshore Gardens in Bradenton on July 14, 2022.

The Hurricane Expo at Trailer Estates was well attended by residents and guests on June 16, 2022 in Mark's hall. Duane Trotter, TE Trustee chairman, opened with remarks and introduced speakers Misty Servia, County Commissioner, District 4 who spoke first to the residents and guests on upcoming improvements to the community. Steve Litschauer, Deputy Manager at the Emergency Operations Center of Manatee County presented scenarios on what to expect during and after a hurricane. A question & answer period followed with Manatee County code enforcement. The newly appointed Chief George McCorkle was introduced. Also responding to questions were code enforcement officers Alex Kagel and Ben Dornon. Trailer Estates CERT was well represented and provided information to the public for hurricane preparedness.

Duane Trotter, Trailer Estates trustee chairman, discusses a proposed disaster communications plan involving the trustees,
maintenance and CERT at the monthly meeting of CERT on June 15, 2022.

Steve Park of the Manatee County Emergency Support Group responds to questions at the May 18, 2022 meeting of the Trailer Estates CERT group as a critique of the TE Yada Drill held on May 12, 2022.

Sharon Denson of Trailer Estates CERT speaks with Bob Harrigan of ABC 7 on
May 17, 2022 at the Manatee County Hurricane Expo. click here.

Hurricane Yada hit Trailer Estates on May 12, 2022 as a category 3 storm. In this drill, these Trailer Estates CERT members responded. We thank Steve Park of the Manatee County Emergency Support Group, Battalion Chief French and Chief Hoyle of Cedar Hammock Fire Control District and the Trailer Estates Office for their participation in this drill. For more pictures of this simulation, click here.

The newest members of CERT completed training and graduated on April 12, 2022 presided over by Manatee County Emergency
Management Chief, Steve Litschauer (center) at the Emergency Operations Center in Bradenton.

CERT members prepare breakfast for residents of Trailer Estates and guests at the monthly fund-raising gathering on April 11, 2022. The next breakfast is tentatively scheduled for December 12 following a seasonal break.

Fire Chief Jeff Hoyle and members of the Cedar Hammock Fire Control District address CERT trainees at a recent class in Trailer Estates.

Mary Lou Smith and Sharon Denson demonstrate first aid training to the next class of CERT members.

Residents line up to practice the skills learned in the Stop the Bleed class put on by Tom Kitchen, Jr. (left), Manatee County - Emergency Management Coordinator, in Mark's Hall of Trailer Estates on March 16, 2022.

A fund-raiser for CERT on March 14, 2022, many residents enjoy a full breakfast including made-to-order omeletes, pancakes, drinks and cinnamon rolls. Members of Manatee Colunty fire and medical services also attended. The next breakfast will be held April 11, 2022 in the large hall. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the Post Office, watch Facebook postings the week before for exact times. Click here for all the Trailer Estates CERT events. Thank you to the following sponsors: Publix, Iberia Bank, Schwab, Panera Bread and Winn-Dixie.

Deputy Chris Ralston of the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, Crime Prevention Unit, delivers an Active Assailant
presentation to residents of Trailer Estates on February 16, 2022.

Manatee County Emergency Management Chief, Steve Litschauer introduces some members of his team at the Trailer Estates
CERT breakfast on February 14, 2022. Thank you to the following sponsors: Publix, Iberia Bank, Schwab, Panera Bread and Winn-Dixie.

Cedar Hammock Fire Chief Jeff Hoyle discusses the role of the fire department to attendees of
the Trailer Estates CERT breakfast on February 14, 2022.

Manatee County Emergency Management, Cedar Hammock Fire Department and Trailer Estates CERT pictured together
at the Trailer Estates CERT breakfast on February 14, 2022.

A fund-raiser for CERT on January 10, 2022, residents enjoy a full breakfast including made-to-order omeletes, pancakes, drinks and cinnamon rolls. The next breakfast will be held on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2022 in the large hall. A limited number of tickets will be sold at the Post Office. Click here for all the Trailer Estates CERT events. Thank you to the following sponsors: Publix, Iberia Bank, Schwab, Panera Bread and Winn-Dixie.

Trailer Estates Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members attend a tour on November 17, 2021 of the Manatee County Emergency Operation Center given by Emergency Management Chief, Steve Litschauer.

HAM radio operators from Trailer Estates Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) participate in an Operation Grazing Herd county-wide drill on November 13, 2021 to test preparedness in the event of an emergency.

Code Enforcement officers from Manatee County in Florida discuss their role following a disaster in Trailer Estates. This presentation took place at Trailer Estates before the regular meeting of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) on September 15, 2021. From left, Code Enforcement officers are Ben Dornon, Sean McGrail and Brad Szink. Watch the presentation.

Trailer Estates Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) celebrate the efforts of Frank and Judy Reidell for their years of service to CERT. They were honored at a moving-on party for them at the beach pavilion on July 15, 2021

It's graduation day for a new class of CERT team members. Become a CERT member by filing a Membership Application. Send the aplication to the address at the top of this page.

A new class of CERT team members attend first-aid training at the Cedar Hammock training facility in Bradenton.

Some CERT members pose for a photo in the small hall where most of the meetings take place.

On September 15, 2020 at 6:15 PM Hurricane Yager passed through Trailer Estates as a Category 4 storm. The devastation was widespread throughout the community. In this simulation the Trailer Estates Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) trained for an actual service, search and rescue disaster response. We hope it never happens, but they all will be ready. Watch the video.

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