What is CERT?

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

• Disaster medical operations

• Terrorism

• Psychology

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.

Who Can Join?

Anyone can join! Naturals for the training are neighborhood watch, community organizations, communities of faith, school staff, workplace employees, scouting organizations, and other groups that come together regularly for a common purpose. CERT skills are useful in disaster and everyday life events.

Are you prepared? Do you want to help your Gloucester, Mathews and Middlesex community in an emergency?

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

CERT members are NOT first responders but offer support in our communities. CERT is a group of community volunteers that learn to: manage utilities and put out small fires, provide basic first aid, learn how to search an area safely, help at local events, and more!

CERT training is free and is held throughout the year.

For more information or to register, email Hannah Bonar or call 804-693-1390.