For information on how to get involved in the CEC and to be included on our e-mail list, complete this form and send to pocoffey@earthlink.net

 The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a FEMA-sponsored national program that educates volunteers about disaster preparedness.  CERT training prepares participants 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, and disaster medical operations.  A nationwide program, CERT training offers a consistent set of skills and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing first responders to focus on more complex tasks.  Through CERT, the community's capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is expanded and enhanced.

CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly and effectively to emergency situations, but they can also support their communities during non-emergency events. For example, SouthCoast CERT and SouthSkyline CERT, assist with many community-based programs such as safety events like the annual Chipper Program, and our many fundraising activities.  

This program specifically trains volunteers to prepare for various types of disasters that we can be expected to face.  Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT members:

• Learn how to safely respond to hazards
  
• Help organize basic disaster response
  
• Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events
  
• Support first responders with auxiliary services
  

CERT training, taught by first responders and other qualified instructors, consists of a 20 hour course in the following:

• Disaster Preparedness
  
• Fire Suppression
  
• Medical Operations:  simple triage and rapid treatment methods; head to toe assessment; basic first aid
  
• Light search and rescue operations
  
• Psychology  and Team Organization
  

CERT groups on the coastside are organized by Branch.  See below to identify the CERT Coordinator for your Branch and for more information,  click on the appropriate coordinator below to email them:

Branch 1 and Branch 2 (Coastside CERT) - Program Manager - Chief Dave Cosgrave; CERT Coordinator -  Cynthia Sherrill 

                Website:  www.coastsidecert.com

Branch 3 and 4:  CERT Program Manager - Pat O'Coffey

Branch 3 Southcoast CERT Coordinator- Kathleen Moazed

Branch 4 South Skyline CERT Coordinator-  Thomas Hempel

For general information about CERT select this link: Ready.gov

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CERT video - CERT in Action!