Community Emergency Response Team

PREPAREDNESS MONTH

CERT 2012 TRAINING

CERT PRESENTATION

The Richfield Department of Public Safety has received grant funding from the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security to inaugurate and continue Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for Richfield residents.  We are partnering with Bloomington Public Health for this program.

The Community Emergency Response Team Program educates residents, people who work in the city, and youth about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains community volunteers in basic disaster skills, such as:   emergency preparedness, fire suppression, 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, workplace or school following an event when professional responders need assistance or are not immediately available to help.  CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community. 

CERT has several different facets that can be implemented including Teen or Youth CERT, Business CERT.  CERT is a component of Citizen Corp.  Fire Corp, Neighborhood Watch, Police Reserves and Police Explorers are other branches of Citizen Corp.  CERT philosophy is based on the axiom, “Help yourself, help your family, help your neighbors, and help your community”.

Two CERT candidate classes graduated in November and December 2009!  Two more classes graduated in spring and fall of 2010 and 2011.  CERT Basic Training classes will again be held in the Spring of 2012!  See the link to the training schedule on this page. 

CERT graduates will be advised of ongoing training and exercises as they become available.  Bi-monthly meetings for CERT Team members are a forum for ongoing training and networking.  

CERT members are trained to function as teams of at least two for safety reasons.   Neighborhood Groups should have two volunteers participate in CERT training if possible!

CERT members will learn necessary physical skills during training but this does not mean seniors or individuals with disabilities should not participate!

Program graduates will receive CERT equipment upon graduation from the program.  If you are interested in being trained as a CERT volunteer please download, complete and return the CERT Application Form below and return it to Lieutenant Jay Henthorne, Emergency Management Coordinator, at Richfield Public Safety, 6700 Portland Avenue, Richfield MN 55423.  To return your application via email or if you have any questions, please contact us at:  CERT@cityofrichfield.org.

We look forward to training and working with you!

CERT Application

For additional information about CERT, visit their web site.

   http://www.echominnesota.org/ind

 http://www.codeready.org/index.cfm