Community emergency response team (CERT)

What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a concept developed in 1985 by the Los Angeles Fire Dept. They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a disaster. The events of Sept 11, 2001 will never be forgotten. Also not forgotten is how the spirit of America was awakened that day and citizens came forth to volunteer their services. Hurricane Katrina further taught us communities must learn how to stand on their own and not rely entirely on federal or state aid in the beginning phases of a major emergency. The December 2008 ice storm that affected so many Massachusetts towns is another example of ways to help, as the many shelters needed trained staff and personnel.

Emergency Preparedness starts at the personal and community level. Lincoln is establishing it’s CERT under the supervision of the Lincoln Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and it reports to the Emergency Management Director (EMD) Fire Chief Arthur Cotoni. Simply stated its mission will be to educate the community on emergency preparedness and upon direction from the EMD deploy trained teams of volunteers to assist first responders during a major emergency.

How Can You Join?

To become a CERT member, you must be at least 18 years of age. If you would like to volunteer your services and become trained to prepare yourself, your family, and help your neighbors and community during natural or man-made disasters,

BECOME A LINCOLN CERT MEMBER

How Can You Help?

Businesses or organizations can help Lincoln CERT fulfill it’s mission for promoting community emergency preparedness and enable deployable volunteer CERT teams in a major emergency by financial, in kind and /or organizational support.

CERT Training

1. Volunteers from all walks of life can become fully certified CERT members through a official 20-hour training course. Certified and non-certified members receive other ongoing training and can help in many ways in CERT activities and community preparedness events. Full certification classes are taught by firefighter, EMTs and law enforcement personnel. The current course for full certification includes the following.
2. Intro to Disaster: This will introduce you to disasters specific to the area and impact of disaster on infrastructure.
3. Disaster Fire Suppression: Identifying and reducing potential fire hazards and basic fire suppression (extinguishers)
4. Disaster Medical Operations part 1: Treatment strategies for life threatening conditions and principles of triage.
5. Disaster Medical Operations part 2: Hand to toe assessment and treatment for various injuries.
6. Light Search and Rescue Operations: Techniques for sizing up and searching for and removing victims: rescue safety.
7. Disaster Psychology & Team Organization: The post disaster emotional environment is discussed: CERT organization, decision making and documentation.
8. Terrorism: A brief overview of terrorism weapons, identifying targets, and discussion of time distance and shielding.
9. Final exercise: Disaster Simulation realistic to our community.

Lincoln CERT Application

Back to the Fire Department Main Page