Community Emergency Response Team

Overview

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a national supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazard that may affect their communities.  The CERT program trains and organizes teams of volunteers to assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members during emergencies when professional responders may not be immediately available to provide assistance.  Before, during, and after disasters, CERT volunteer teams perform basic response activities, including checking on neighbors, distributing information to the public, supporting emergency operations centers, and conducting traffic/crowd control.  The ability for CERT members to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.  CERT volunteers also support their communities by organizing, promoting, and participating in emergency preparedness events, activities, and projects. 

History

The Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) developed the CERT program after examining the civilian response to an earthquake in Mexico City, Mexico in 1985.  The earthquake claimed 10,000 lives, including 100 untrained volunteers.  As a result of the after-action report, the LAFD developed and offered disaster response training to Los Angeles residents.  Their goal was to ensure that during and after future disasters, namely earthquakes, that volunteers would be able to assist in a "safe, responsible, and effective manner."  The LAFD piloted the first CERT training in 1986.  In 1994, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) expanded the CERT program to include all hazards and made it available nationwide.  Today, over 600,000 people have been trained, and there are more than 3,200 local CERT programs nationwide.  The City of Laurel CERT program began in 2004, under guidance of the Prince George's County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.  

Community Preparedness

Community-based preparedness is critical in the Department of Emergency Management's efforts to create a safer, more prepared, and more resilient city.  By working together with your neighbors, you can prepare your homes and families and help reduce injuries, protect property, and save lives.  Studies have shown that communities respond to disasters more effectively when prior planning and training has occurred.  Community disaster response is even more effective and successful when social and political organizations within the community, including neighborhood associations, schools, places of worship, and local government personnel work together.  Through comprehensive planning and coordination, City of Laurel community members can serve as a crucial resource in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

When Disaster Strikes

Natural and manmade disasters severely restrict and/or overwhelm emergency responders, resources, communication, transportation, and utilities.  Damaged roadways and communication systems may leave a community cut off from outside support for several days.  For this reason, individual and community preparedness, planning, and survival skills may be necessary to ensure basic needs such as food, water, and shelter are available.  By learning about the likely hazards in the City of Laurel; understanding hazard-specific protective actions; and assembling important emergency supplies, you become an important asset to the City's resiliency efforts.

City of Laurel CERT Training Information

The City of Laurel CERT is an all-inclusive organization where all are welcome to join and participate, as long as they abide by the CERT guidelines.  CERT members come from all walks of life and include retirees, government workers, daycare providers, ministers, nurses, teachers, homeowners/neighborhood associations, etc.  In order to become a City of Laurel CERT member, participants must complete the basic training class, which is a 22-hour course that teaches disaster preparedness, fire safety and utility control, disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, and terrorism.  The course ends with a disaster simulation exercise, which allows students to practice what they have learned.  Upon successful completion of the class, graduates can have their names added to the CERT roster to be included in CERT activities, including monthly meetings, training opportunities, and emergency/special event activations. 

In addition to the basic CERT training class, CERT members may also have the opportunity to participate in the following training:

• CPR, AED, and First Aid
• Emergency Shelter Management and Operations
• Amateur Radio Technician Classes
• Animal Rescue and Emergency Shelter Operations
• Intake and Inventory of Donations
• Emergency Operations Center Call Takers
• Crowd Control, Roadway Safety, and Traffic Control
• Special Events Management and Operations

If you are interested in joining the City of Laurel Community Emergency Response Team, please fill out the form below or email us at CERT@Laurel.MD.US.