Whitfield County CERT

05/12/2026

As part of our Volunteer Appreciation Month celebration we always try to put together a small token of our appreciation. This year we were able to put together a sweet basket of treats with help of local partners. They each went above and beyond to help us show some love to our volunteers!

Cohutta General Store curated an assortment of local jams and jellies.

North Georgia Health District provided fantastic ponchos and survival pens.

NWGA Busy Bees curated local honey, apple butter, and lip balm all packaged so adorably and on theme!

We appreciate each of your time and support!

05/08/2026

2025 Volunteer of the Year- Melissa Sandoval

Melissa has been with the program a relatively short time, but she has really stepped up to become a leader in that time. From the time she took her basic academy she has been a go getter who is passionate about the program, is almost always the first to respond when volunteers are needed, and cares about her team. She can be counted on to watch over her teammates at all times- including the coordinators! She isn’t afraid to think outside of the box and has been a true joy to work with!

05/06/2026

In 2025 we had 2 of our volunteers retire. Please join us in congratulating them and thanking them for their time!

Karlene Parshall (not present)- Karlene dedicated herself to CERT with enthusiasm! Her warm smile and quick wit will be missed. Her time here was short but full of impacts to our community.

David Senters- David has been a key volunteer ever since his Basic CERT academy in 2011. In the wake of the April 27, 2011 tornado in Ringgold and Apison, David needed to find a place where the skills learned in his years as a Marine could best be put to use in his community. Since then he has tirelessly dedicated himself to supporting EMA in any way that he can from teaching classes, joining the HAM radio community, taking on leadership roles, and to being a steadying presence for those around him.

We thank them both for their service from the bottom of our hearts!

05/04/2026

Reflecting on 2025, we are incredibly proud of our CERT volunteers and the dedication they’ve shown to Whitfield County. From training and exercises to real-world responses, you continue to step up when it matters most—serving your neighbors with compassion, strength, and heart.

Last weeks dinner was just a small token of our appreciation. It could never fully capture the impact you’ve made or the gratitude we feel for each of you.

Thank you for being the backbone of our community and for truly embodying what it means to serve.

Please join us in congratulating these award recipients!

04/28/2026

Tonight was our annual Volunteer Appreciation Dinner. This year’s theme- “Volunteers, the Heart of America” and they are most definitely the heart of our team! It is our honor and privilege to work with such a phenomenal team!

-Christina Byrd, Jeff Ownby, and David Metcalf

04/27/2026

FYI

Please be advised controlled underground blasting will take place today, Monday, April 27th, from 1pm to 3pm for construction off Old Tilton Road.

04/01/2026

There’s no foolin’ when it comes to emergency preparedness. 🚨
Know your risks, make a plan, and have a go bag ready.

No es broma cuando se trata de la preparación ante emergencias. 🚨
Conozca sus riesgos, haga un plan y tenga lista una mochila de emergencia.

03/16/2026

***this alert has expired***

Whitfield County is under a tornado watch.

Make sure your weather radio is working, your kit is ready, and you’re staying weather aware overnight.

Remember- watch means “watch out conditions are right for an event” and warning is “your alarm going off that it’s here so take cover”.

01/22/2026

FYI

11/02/2025

On November 1st we spent a beautiful chilly morning assisting with traffic management for a 5K benefiting Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia. We enjoy our blue sky days getting to give back to Whitfield County!