On Feb 14, 2018 at approx 2:45pm I got a call from a leader in my CERT program that we were activated for a school shooting in Parkland, FL. I was asked to be a co-driver for the CERT program truck and meet the driver at Margate Fire Station 58 (Rock Island Rd). We loaded up the truck with ice and water and at approx 3:25p proceeded to the scene (Holmberg Rd. & Pine Island Rd) in Parkland.
We were stopped at approx 4:15pm with other emergency vehicles Northbound on Pine Island just North of Westview Dr. where we met other Margate CERT members and handed out waters to the first responders in the immediate area. Around 5pm other CERT members and I were directed to walk North bringing coolers of water and ice to the intersection of Holmberg and Coral Springs Drive. From 5:30p to approx 9pm I walked East and West on Holmberg and North and South on Pine Island adjacent to the school handing out waters to primarily law enforcement officers on the scene.
Around 9p the CERT truck driver and I took the truck and went to the First Responder’s (Fire Rescue, Dispatchers and CERT) debriefing at the Coral Springs Center of the Arts on Coral Springs Dr.
On Thurs morning I took the Margate CERT Program Therapy Dog (we are with Alliance of Therapy Dogs (https://www.therapydogs.com) to the Parkland Rec Center to offer comfort to the people there. We primarily worked inside the rec center for most of the day. At approx 4pm the dog and I went to the Westglades Middle school to offer comfort to teachers and students effected by the shooting.
Later that day at approx 6pm I took the CERT Comfort / Therapy Dog to the Coral Springs Police/Fire Dispatch to comfort the Dispatchers.
On Friday Feb 16, 2018 I took the Comfort Dog back to the Parkland Recreation Center to offer comfort and compassion to all effected by the shooting. This was more challenging for me than being at the actual event. We moved inside and out offering comfort to those who needed it. There were people obviously in pain and emotionally drained from the shooting.
On Sat Feb 17, 2018 I returned to the Parkland Rec Center with Coco The Therapy dog as part of Canines For Christ, not the Margate CERT Program.
During this visit we were not allowed inside the building. Coco offered comfort and therapy to people outside and we also were part of an interview done by a Fox News crew from Atlanta.
On Sat Feb 17, 2018 at approx 6pm Coco and I visited the Broward Sheriff’s Office North 911 Center in Coconut Creek, FL. We also went back around 10:30pm to visit with the midnight shift.
On Sun Feb 18, 2018 approx 3:30pm Coco and I visited the Broward Central Dispatch Center in Sunrise, FL.
On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at approx 3:45pm Coco and I visited the Broward Sheriff’s Office South 911 Communication Center located in Pembroke Pines.
On Tues Feb 20, 2018 Coco and I went to Church by the Glades for their Hope for Douglas event organized and supported by First Priority and other Churches in the Broward area. #parklandstrong #prayforparkland
Links to ABC News clips with Coco:
about 23 second in – http://abcnews.go.com/US/comfort-dogs-descend-florida-community-deadly-school-shooting/story?id=53228399
about 1.40 seconds in – https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Florida-Students-Come-Together-After-Shooting_Washington-DC-474231533.html
Here is an article in a Miami magazine about Coco’s Therapy Dog work and our involvement in the Community – http://voyagemia.com/interview/meet-tom-savoca-therapy-dog-handler-margate/
Here is an article we are mentioned in from the Florida CERT Association – https://www.flacertassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/FLA-CERT-Newsletter-2018-01-v7.pdf
