Southeast Volusia CERT

06/25/2025

Tornado and Hurricane Season is here!

Please share this page to get the word out about our new SEV CERT Team here in Volusia County, Florida.

We are a NEWLY FORMED Non-Profit that is getting geared up for our first hurricane season.

Thank you for helping spread the word about us!

~ Heather Bendl
SEV CERT Program Manager

04/08/2025

At April's COAD which stands for "Community Organizations Active in Disaster", monthly meeting as our Program Manager.

04/02/2025

I am always learning and always growing so I can help our communities!

I got two certificates, one from the State of Florida and one from Volusia County.

Heather Bendl
Program Manager

04/02/2025

Day Two of FEMA's G0235: Emergency Planning at the Volusia County Emergency Management's EOC here in Daytona, Florida

We get our certificates today!

Heather Bendl
Program Manager

04/01/2025

I am dedicated to continuing my education and certifications to better help and assist in our communities during times of need.

This two day G0235 FEMA Emergency Planning Certification will help me better assist as a Program Manager for our SEV CERT.

Heather Bendl
Program Manager

03/16/2025

Our News Interviews Covering our SEV CERT Team!

Monday, November 11th, 2024 Spectrum Channel 13:

https://mynews13.com/fl/orlando/news/2024/11/11/edgewater-community-emergency-response-team?fbclid=IwY2xjawGiEzFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZtj6Rp8a0ikdFvrzU9k5erDFO8G-VD7cBzxuUdT9NLO1YRnYSuRxa6qfQ_aem_CIvjFCGwAG2EFpX3n6LVIQ

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 WESH Channel 2:

https://www.wesh.com/article/edgewater-residents-disaster-response-team/62898342

Wednesday, November 13th, 2024 WFTV Channel 9:

https://www.wftv.com/news/local/edgewater-residents-are-launching-program-create-community-disaster-preparedness/LFPMA4IORND47DER2E2DF776SU/

Friday, November 15th, 2024 WKMG Channel 6:

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2024/11/15/edgewater-residents-to-create-emergency-response-team-for-disasters/

Thursday, January 9th, 2025 Hometown News Volusia:

https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/news/helping-communities-to-handle-emergencies-in-southeast-volusia/article_5e97e950-cc62-11ef-afeb-63454389ccdb.html

The group would serve Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach and Oak Hill.

03/11/2025

Community Emergency Response Team members from California, Florida, and Texas explain how they come together to prepare their communities and assist their ne...

03/11/2025

What is CERT you may ask?

CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team.

Please take a look at this wealth of information on what we do and how we get involved in our communities during a time of need!

Please know that we are not FEMA, we are citizens that volunteer in our communities. FEMA only provides the training and guidance we need to be properly trained and ready to assist!

This is a Citizen-Lead Group that gets our funding through our Non-Profit Organization via Grants, Fundraising, and Donations. Taxpayers do not fund us.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live.

03/11/2025

Edgewater, Florida's Fire & Rescue Chief / Fire Marshal Jeffrey J. Lariscy has graciously offered to be our Government Sponsor!

I would like to formally thank him for his continued support as we grow from a concept to reality!

~Heather Bendl
CEO / Program Manager

03/11/2025

We are seeking someone with previous CERT experience, ideally CERT Instructor experience, to sit on our Non-Profit Board as the Vice President.

If this sounds like you, please reach out to Heather Bendl for more details and an interview at:

[email protected]

Or send us a message below.

Send a message to learn more

03/11/2025

**Update** Posted 3-11-2025

WE ARE OFFICIALLY A NON-PROFIT AS OF MARCH 5th, 2025!!!!

We now have an IRS Non Profit EIN and we are in SunBiz waiting on approval for our Non Profit as well! As soon as we get approval from SunBiz in about 7 business days we can open our Bank Account and move on to the Federal part of the paperwork!!

I will be opening our account with Space Coast Credit Union the moment we get that document number from SunBiz! That will allow us to apply for Sate and Federal Grants as well as Fundraise to pay for our required FEMA background checks to deploy outside of Edgewater AND our training / equipment needed!!

We are well on our way to being a VERY SOLID CERT Team!!!

It's a waiting game for now, I will update the moment we get our SunBiz approval and I get our Bank Account open!

Please SHARE this great news with your friends, family, and neighbors!!