CERT it’s role in you being better prepared

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) plays a key role in helping individuals, families, and communities become better prepared for disasters and emergencies.

What is CERT?

CERT is a FEMA-supported, nationally consistent program (implemented locally) that trains ordinary citizens as volunteers in basic disaster preparedness and response skills. It empowers people to help themselves, their families, neighbors, and communities, especially in the critical early hours or days after a disaster when professional responders may be overwhelmed or delayed.

The program has trained over 600,000 people across more than 3,200 local programs in all 50 states, tribal nations, and territories.

Its Role in Being Better Prepared

CERT’s primary goal is to build a “Culture of Preparedness” by bridging the gap until professional help arrives. Here’s how it contributes:

• Personal and Family Preparedness: Training teaches you to assess area-specific hazards, create family emergency plans, build disaster kits, and make your home safer (e.g., by installing smoke alarms). This makes you far more self-sufficient.
• Practical Response Skills: The standard CERT Basic Course (typically ~18–24 hours over several weeks) covers hands-on topics like:
• Disaster preparedness and hazard identification
• Fire safety and suppression
• Light search and rescue
• Disaster medical operations (basic first aid, triage)
• Team organization and incident command (using systems like NIMS/ICS)
• Psychology of disasters and caring for survivors
• Community Impact: CERT members can:
• Check on neighbors and provide immediate aid
• Support evacuation, traffic control, or shelter operations
• Distribute resources, information, or meals
• Assist with recovery efforts
• Participate in preparedness events and drills year-round. This reduces the burden on first responders, allowing them to handle more complex tasks.
• Proven Benefits: Trained individuals respond more safely and effectively (as Good Samaritans), reduce panic, organize spontaneous volunteers, and improve overall community resilience. Many participants report feeling significantly more confident and capable.

How to Get Involved

• Search for a local CERT program through your city/county emergency management office, FEMA’s site, or Ready.gov.
• Training is usually free or low-cost and open to most adults (some programs accept teens with a parent).
• You don’t have to join an active response team; many take the course purely for personal preparedness.

In short, CERT equips you with knowledge, skills, and confidence to turn from a potential victim into a helpful asset during emergencies. It’s one of the most practical ways to move from “hoping nothing happens” to “being ready when it does.”

As Always, Stay Vigilant and Be Prepared

You play a critical role in your preparedness. By preparing yourself for the unexpected, you will become more self-reliant and a valuable asset to your community.