Team of Tribeca Rescuers Begins Training in January With memories of the terrorist attacks etched deeply in the minds of many local residents and workers, concerns about emergency preparedness linger throughout Lower Manhattan. Are Tribecans prepared to help their neighbors if another crisis strikes? A free nine-week Community Emergency Rescue Training (CERT) course is being offered beginning next month in Independence Plaza's community room at 310 Greenwich St. The course, sponsored by the Downtown Independent Democrats and taught by trained CERT instructors, is meant to provide Tribeca with volunteers whom the community can count on when "first responders"-police, firefighters and emergency service personnel-are stretched thin. "What we learned from 9/11 is that first responders go to the emergency and leave the rest of us alone," said Jean Grillo, a Tribeca resident who has spearheaded the effort to create a CERT team in the neighborhood. "You have to have trained people ready to jump in." The 27 hours of instruction, in classes that meet once a week, cover fire safety and suppression, first aid, basic search and rescue skills, disaster psychology, terrorism, community relations and more. Volunteers select a specialty, but no prior experience is required and adults of all ages can participate. "There's a job for everybody," said Sid Baumgarten, who organized a CERT training program in Battery Park City. Peter Gleason, a former police officer and firefighter who is the project coordinator for the Tribeca CERT team, said that after taking the course "you're qualified to help yourself and your family. And when you're satisfied your family's needs are taken care of, it's time to take care of the community. It's an empowering experience." Gleason recalled the many volunteers who wanted to help on Sept. 11 but either were not allowed to or did not know where to go. "It was one of the most frustrating things I've witnessed," he said. In the event of a disaster, the community room at 310 Greenwich Street will be the "nerve center" of CERT operations, with the CERT coordinator in contact with the police or fire command post. "If we have a trained group of CERT people, it's a comforting thing for the community," said Baumgarten. For training schedule and registration information, write to tribecasohocert@aol.com.