Why CERT?

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training teaches members of the public how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, ranging from small scale everyday emergencies up to large-scale disasters. Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services will not be able to meet the overwhelming demand for their services. Factors such as the number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment’s notice. People will have to rely on each other for help to meet their immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining needs. CERT teaches people how to better help themselves and others until first responders arrive.

CERT was created to deliver volunteer training to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to emergencies. It provides opportunities for people to participate in a range of measures to make their families, their homes, and their communities safer from the threats of crime, terrorism, and disasters of all kinds. Over 2700 communities across the United States have an organized CERT program.

Under emergency disaster conditions, family members, fellow employees, and neighbors will most likely spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following the 1985 Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 of these volunteers died while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is mostly preventable through training.

What can the government do to prepare residents for the eventuality of a disaster? First, inform residents of the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, give them the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train the community in needed lifesaving skills with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. Fourth, organize teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

CERT supports FEMA and our county’s emergency services to empower all people to take steps to become disaster resilient by providing “CERT Basic Training,” a 20+ hour set of classes that is offered free to the local community.