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What Is Butler County CERT?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the City of Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a catastrophic disaster. Accordingly, LAFD decided that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance could arrive. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet immediate post-disaster needs. The training program that LAFD initiated proved to be so beneficial that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) felt that the concept and the program should be made available to communities nationwide. In 1994, the Emergency Management Institute (EMI), in cooperation with LAFD, expanded the CERT materials to make them applicable to all hazards. In 2003, President Bush asked all Americans to volunteer in the service of their country. The Citizen Corps program was created to spearhead this effort to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds. CERT was selected as one of the primary programs offered to the American public to meet this challenge. About Community Emergency Response Team TrainingIf available, emergency services personnel are the best trained
and equip CERT training is designed to prepare you to help yourself, your family and your neighbors in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, you can make a difference by using the training offered to save lives and protect property. CERT training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice by working as a team, you will be able to do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster, while protecting yourself from becoming a victim. Interested in Becoming a Member of CERT?An sample agenda of our last class is available by clicking here. CERT training is always free and the benefits you will gain are priceless! The link below will give you a registration form in Adobe to become part of the effort! Thank you for your interest and watch this space for further information on the Butler County CERT and Citizen Corps Council. For online information on CERT, visit the Citizen Corps website at www.citizencorps.org
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ped to handle
emergencies and you should use them. However following a catastrophic
disaster, you and the community may be on your own for a period of time because
of the size of the area affected, lost communications and impassable roads.