CERT – Community Emergency Response Team
If you or members of your community are interested in how you can learn more about responding to a disaster or preparedness, consider taking part in a CERT training. CERT is the acronym for Community Emergency Response Team. CERT teaches volunteers about disaster preparedness and response. Skills taught during CERT training include basic skills in disaster response, fire safety, light search and rescue, how to organize teams including ICS (Incident Command Structure), working in a team, and medical operations. You also learn about the types of hazards found in our area.
The CERT curriculum is a nationwide approach to training so responders know CERT-trained volunteers have specific capabilities. Although trained, a CERT volunteer never self-deploys to a disaster. CERT-trained volunteers are able to take care of their “home base” in the case a disaster hits. Imagine you and your family are sheltering in your basement when a tornado strikes your neighborhood. The skills you learn in CERT can help you provide assistance to your family and your immediate neighbors before responders arrive. There are CERT teams in Nebraska that have been asked to deploy during disasters.
MRC – Medical Reserve Corps
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers include medical and public health professionals, and trained community members without healthcare backgrounds. Like CERT volunteers, MRC also prepares for emergency response and support community resilience. MRC volunteers also support large community events, emergency sheltering, health education and screening, healthy habits and more.
To learn more about these two volunteer organizations, visit:
• Ready.gov - https://www.ready.gov/cert
• Nebraska Citizen Corps Partner programs - https://nema.nebraska.gov/preparedness/citizen-corps-partner-programs
• Medical Reserve Corps - https://mrc.hhs.gov/HomePage
Upcoming CERT Basic Training Class – Oct 26, Omaha.
A CERT Basic Training class is slated for Oct. 26th at American Red Cross, 2912 South 80th Avenue, Omaha, NE. This is an all-day class. Registration is due by October 12. You must also complete the free FEMA https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-317 course.
Register at http://www.tricountycert-ne.org/registerhere
More details at: https://nema.nebraska.gov/preparedness/citizen-corps-partner-programs