As a part of the President's Homeland Security plan, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) programs are being formed in cities and localities all across America. CERT operates under the Citizen Corps Council plan that brings together community first responders, fire fighters, law enforcement, EMS, emergency managers, and the volunteer community to involve all citizens in emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, crime prevention, and emergency medical training. Each year communities across Vermont are part of some disaster that will effect his or her area in one way or another. These emergency events may be in the form of fires, accidents, severe storms, high winds, blizzards, floods or "man made" disasters. Community Emergency Response Teams also provide assistance at public events freeing up the resources of the first responders such as police and fire departments. Cert also works together with the American Red Cross to provide a trained pool of volunteers to assist in the operating of emergency shelters during times of need in the community. Basic CERT Training |