Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for 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. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

These teams proved to be very valuable during the big snowstorms in western NY and PA a few weeks. For more information on how to get involved and where to get the training, visit www.FEMA.gov. For those responders looking for more, being part of a CERT might be just what you are looking for.