Community Emergency Response
Team
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program
educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact
their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire
safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical
operations.
CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training
and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster
situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the
capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and
enhanced.
Since 1993, CERT has impacted communities across the
country, building essentials skills and capabilities to prepare for and respond
to any disaster. There are now CERT programs in all 50 states, including many
tribal nations and U.S. territories; each unique to its community but all
essential to building a Culture of Preparedness.
The CERT program was designed as a grassroots initiative and
specifically structured so that the local and state program managers have the
flexibility to form their programs in the way that best suits their
communities. CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly, and
effectively to emergency situations, but they can also support their
communities during non-emergency events as well. There are over 2,700 local
CERT programs nationwide, with more than 600,000 individuals trained since CERT
became a national program.
FEMA’s Community Emergency Response Team Program trains
volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters that their community may face.
Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT members:
- · Learn how to safely respond to manmade and natural hazards
- · Help organize basic disaster response
- · Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events
- · Please contact your local emergency manager or FEMA at FEMA-Prepare@fema.dhs.gov
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