Web links:

Citizens Corps national web
site

Federal Emergency Management Institute (FEMA) CERT

Homeland Security federal web site
or call
1(800) BeReady

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994.  Since then, CERT’s have been established in hundreds of communities.

CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people that they serve.  The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills.  CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.

If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during training.  These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives.  CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.

They can attend supplemental training opportunities offered by the sponsoring agency and others that further their skills base.  Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness.
CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises and activities.