Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
CERT
is a training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family,
and your neighbors in the event of a disaster. During an incident,
emergency services personnel may not be able to reach everyone right
away. By getting trained in CERT, you will have the skills to help
emergency responders save lives and protect property.
As a CERT
member you can respond to disasters, participate in drills and
exercises, and take additional training. CERT teams are known and
trusted resources that support emergency responders and their
communities.
Under the
direction of local emergency responders, CERT Teams help provide
critical support by giving immediate assistance to victims, providing
damage assessment information, and organizing other volunteers at a
disaster site. Volunteers trained in CERT also offer a potential
workforce for performing duties such as shelter support, crowd
control, and evacuations. The role of a CERT volunteer is to help
themselves and to help others until trained emergency personnel
arrive.
In addition
to supporting emergency responders during a disaster, the CERT program
builds strong working relationships between emergency responders and
the people they serve. CERT teams also help the community year-round
by helping with community emergency plans, neighborhood exercise,
preparedness outreach, fire safety education, and workplace safety.
If you are interested in
becoming a
CERT Member
in St. Mary's County, please contact Gerald Gardiner Jr., St. Mary's
County Emergency Planner and
CERT
Coordinator at 301-475-4200 Ext. 2124 or
Gerald.Gardiner@co.saint-marys.md.us
St Mary’s County
Department of Public Safety is pleased to announce the following CERT training opportunities for the citizens of St.
Mary’s County:
- April 17 & 18, 2010
- 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location - Dept. of Public Safety, 23090 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown MD
Or
- June 12 & 13, 2010 - 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Location - Dept. of
Public Safety,
23090 Leonard Hall Drive,
Leonardtown MD
