What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program provides residents with an understanding of their responsibility in preparing for disasters. It increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors.

It is a training program used nation-wide to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters. CERT training includes both classroom and “hands-on” training in the areas of home preparedness, fire suppression, first aid, search and rescue, terrorism awareness and disaster psychology. At the end of CERT training, a disaster simulation is held to allow participants to practice their skills in a realistic setting. Once you complete CERT training, you are matched up with other CERT members in your neighborhood to form a CERT team.

Why does Shoreline need CERT?

If a disaster occurs in Shoreline, the firefighters and police officers will immediately be overwhelmed with requests for help. They simply will not be able to meet the needs of all Shoreline residents during the hours and perhaps days following a disaster. Residents will need to serve as their own “first responders” during this critical time when help will not be coming to your area. CERT training provides you with the skills you need to serve safely and effectively as part of a first response team in your own neighborhood. CERT teams save lives and protect property that otherwise would be lost following a disaster.