The Community Emergency Response Team Program educates people about disaster preparedness for 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. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. Stafford CERT combines a community-based team approach with a countywide CERT cadre to manage programmatic initiatives and training. Members may be called upon to assist in the Emergency Operations Center, support sheltering operations, manage distribution centers or a host of additional recovery efforts to help restore the community after a disaster.
