CERT is a training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors in the event of a disaster. During an incident emergency service personnel may not be able to reach everyone right away. By getting trained in CERT, you will have the skills to help emergency responders save lives and protect property. As a member of a CERT team, you can respond to disasters, participate in drills and exercises, and take additional training. CERT teams are known and trusted to emergency responders and their communities. In 95 percent of all emergencies, the victim or bystander provides the first immediate assistance on the scene. Would you know what to do? Doing the greatest good for the greatest number!

Under the direction of local emergency responders, CERT teams help provide critical support by giving immediate assistance to victims, provide damage assessment information, and organizing other volunteers at a disaster site. Volunteers trained in CERT also offer a potential workforce for performing duties such as shelter support, crowd control, and evacuation. The role of a CERT volunteer is to help others until trained emergency personnel arrive.

In addition to supporting emergency responders during a disaster, the CERT program builds strong working relationships between emergency responders and the people they serve. CERT teams also help the community year-round by helping with community emergency plans, neighborhood exercises, preparedness outreach, fire safety education, and workplace safety.