What is the Columbia County
Community Emergency Response Team?

What is CERT? The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains people to be prepared for emergency situations in their community and neighborhood. CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, collect disaster information to support first responder efforts and provide that first neighborhood help in the immediate hours following a major emergency. It's families helping themselves and neighbors helping neighbors to prepare, respond and recover in their own neighborhood. Why CERT?: Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo and Floyd , tornadoes, large wildfires, hazardous materials incidents and acts of terrorism (WTC) have clearly shown during the initial hours following the disaster, emergency personnel are overloaded, unable to reach areas or are short of personnel to respond. Others often have had to pitch in to help persons in their immediate neighborhood. CERT training gives you the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors and business associates in an efficient and effective manner without placing yourself in unnecessary danger. When, how and where is CERT? CERT is "now". A CERT team is your neighbors and business colleagues, who following training, initiate neighborhood or business teams, whose actions make a difference. Following a 21 hour basic training program and on-going efforts, the team can manage utilities, put out small fires, provide lifesaving interventions, perform basic search and rescue operations, and assist in damage assessment, evacuation and rapid sheltering. Administrative support and organizing positions are also available. CERT is active in over 30 Florida counties with over 5,000 neighborhood trained personnel. It is a "local" program formed through your local department of emergency management. Our local Columbia County CERT is under the direction of the Columbia County Emergency Management. Columbia County Emergency Management will serve as a facilitator; provide staff support; and shall have the authority to exercise all the powers to accomplish its charitable and educational purposes including but not limited to the power to accept donations of money or property.

Page Last Modified :Friday October 02, 2009 HOME MEMBERS About CERT How to Apply CERT Photos CERT Newsletters CERT News Weather Contact Us Links Columbia County Emergency Management P.O. Box 1787 Lake City, FL 32056-1787 Phone (386) 758-1125 / Fax (386) 752-9644 Copyright © 2009 - 2012