CERT FAQ
Q: What is CERT?
 A: 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.
Q: How does CERT benefit the
community?
A: People who go through CERT training
have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home,
workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the
effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace. If
a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, CERT
members can apply the training learned in the classroom and during
exercises to give critical support to their family, loved ones,
neighbors or associates in their immediate area until help arrives.
When help does arrive, CERTs provide useful information to
responders and support their efforts, as directed, at the disaster
site. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that
improve the safety of the community.
Q: How do I take CERT training?
A: To become a CERT member, you will
have to take the CERT training from a sponsoring agency like an
emergency management agency, fire department or police department in
the area where you live or work. Contact the local emergency manager
where you live or work and ask about the education and training
opportunities available to you. Let this person know about your
interest in CERT.
 Q: How do CERT members maintain their skills?
A: CERT members and the local
sponsoring agency work together to maintain team skills and the
working partnership. It is suggested that the sponsor conduct
refresher classes and an annual exercise where all CERT members are
invited to participate. Some response agencies have conducted joint
exercises with CERT teams and operate as they would during an actual
disaster. The last point does bring up a lesson learned. Besides
training CERT members, it is also important to educate members of
response agencies in the community about CERTs, the skills that team
members have learned during training and the role that they will
have during a major disaster. One way to develop trust between CERT
and responders is by encouraging agency personnel to participate in
classes as instructors and coaches and in activities with CERT
members.
Q: What about liability?
A: Information about state laws
regarding liability can be found on the Citizen
Corps website. The
Non-Profit Risk Management Center also has information about
specific state laws regarding volunteer liability.
Information provided on this website
was obtained from www.citizencorps.gov, and
www.nonprofitrisk.org.
|
