SEPTEMBER IS NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
Elma CERT, Inc. is a non-profit, instructional, non-political organization, founded in 2007 and incorporated in 2013. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team
Our mission is to:
Inform citizens to be better prepared to take care of themselves, family, friends, and neighbors in the event of a disaster of any type until emergency responders can arrive
Establish Community Response Teams as emergency management resources
Develop volunteer pools to help during an emergency
Perform projects that improve a community’s preparedness.
What is CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
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, terrorism awareness, team organization, and disaster medical operations. A Worldwide Network
CERT groups are organized at the local level, typically by a responder agency. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when first responders are not immediately available to help. Individuals interested in the program generally start with the FEMA Basic CERT training. Many of the Basic CERT Training participants attend only to obtain the knowledge and skills provided throughout the initial training, others choose to participate as an active member of their local team.
Active CERT members have taken the Basic Training and can be called upon by their sponsoring agency during a disaster or other emergency to assist in critical response roles. These roles may include local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staffing, emergency shelter operations, disaster assessment, first responder support, assisting with decontamination or HAZMAT operations, or other critical tasks that require additional volunteer manpower.
Elma CERT,s main objective has been, since day one, to prepare the community at large to take care of themselves, immediate family, and neighbors for up to 72 + hours when emergency services are delayed due to a large scale emergency, severe weather vent, etc. A prepared community is less of a strain on the system when it is overwhelmed and is more resilient.