Dixie County Emergency Services

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, using the model created by the LosAngeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the CommunityEmergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994. Since then, CERTs have beenestablished in hundreds of communities.

CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and thepeople that they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members ofneighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills.CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability fortheir area. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’sprofessional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basicresponse and organizational skills that they learned during training. Theseskills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives.

CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies. About CERT… CERT membersmaintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises and activities.They can attend supplemental training opportunities offered by the sponsoringagency and others that further their skills base.

Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve communityemergency preparedness.