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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
In the wake of a disaster, “professional” fire and medical responders may be unavailable due to debris and road damage, plus an overwhelming need for emergency response in all areas of the city. Some basic disaster skills would help you lessen the impact of disaster on your family and neighbors survive until assistance arrives.
The goal of the CERT program is to provide for community self-sufficiency during the first few days of a disaster.
Click HERE to download our CERT program flyer.
Click HERE to go to our CERT website.
Course Description: CERT is “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.” The 24 hours of instruction can provide a trained volunteer work force in your neighborhood. Our “ideal” CERT member is anyone who desires to learn the skills to assist themselves and their neighbors during a disaster. The class meets one evening per week for eight weeks. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting dirty. The course consists of:
- Class 1: Disaster Preparedness: natural disaster threat to our area, impact of disasters on the infrastructure, and the role of CERTs in disaster response.
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Class 2: Disaster Fire Suppression: fire chemistry, identifying and reducing potential fire hazards, firefighting resources, firefighting techniques. You will use a fire extinguisher to put out a small fire.
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Classes 3 & 4: Disaster Medical Operations: treatment for life-threatening conditions; principles of triage; patient lifts, drags, and carries; head-to-toe patient assessments; establishing treatment areas; treatments for burns, lacerations, fractures, sprains, and other injuries.
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Classes 5& 6: Light Search & Rescue Operations and Disaster Psychology: search & rescue priorities and resources; situation size-up, rescuer safety and limitations, construction-related hazards, damage assessment, lifting, cribbing and levers, victim extrication, and disaster psychology.
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Class 7: Team Organization and Decision Making: CERT organization, volunteer management, CERT documentation, and a resource allocation decision-making exercise. Take-home examination.
- Class 8: Course review, take-home examination review, and a practical “disaster simulation” exercise with live victims to put your new skills to the test!
CERT members are also encouraged to get their amateur radio license to assist in disaster communications. (Good news - amateur radio is not just for nerds anymore! There is no Morse Code requirement to get your license - just a multiple-choice test on basic electronics, FCC rules, and radio operations.)
Time and Talents Commitment The training is technical and covers a broad range of skills. To successfully complete the course, your minimum time and talent commitments will be:
- Initial training: 3-hour classes, one evening per week for 8 consecutive weeks (You must attend all 8 weeks.)
- Preparation time: 2 hours per week
- Follow-on training: Offered monthly, 3 hours each
- Leadership: Meet regularly with members of your team
- Recruiting: It takes a minimum of 10 people to build a CERT in your neighborhood
Financial Commitment
The City will provide: 
- safety vest
- hard hat
- safety goggles
- work gloves
Each member must complete his or her own CERT supplies kit by the end of the course. A list of recommended items will be provided the first night of class. You may already have many of the items around the house; others need to be purchased or possibly donated by businesses.
Neighborhood Commitment Spreading the word and committing to the “neighbors helping neighbors” philosophy is great incentive to get to know your new neighbors, find out what special skills they have, and include them in CERT preparations and training. CERT is also a perfect complement to the Neighborhood Watch program, homeowners’ association, or other existing neighborhood leadership structure.
FUN Commitment! Learn disaster survival skills in a fun and friendly atmosphere. CERT uses hands-on drills to reinforce your new knowledge. It’s also more fun with a friend, so bring one along!
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