CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a national organization, now part of the Citizens Corp program under FEMA. CERTs are volunteers, all ages & backgrounds, who have gone through training from public safety officials to learn the basics of small fire suppression, light search & rescue , first aid and how CERTs will be utilized in a disaster. CERT volunteers will assist fire and police personnel in reaching out to residents to assess their needs following an emergency, communicate those needs to city officials and help their neighbors in those first crucial days. We know from the Grand Jury Report that in a major disaster, our public safety officials will be stretched beyond their ability to respond to everyone and CERTs can help bridge that gap. They have the commitment & passion to help their neighbors and can easily navigate the 'back roads' of their own community. The consensus of questionnaires sent out by the GrandJury to all Fire and Police Departments is that  "CERT-trained volunteerswill play a vital role in Marin on the community level in the event of anemergency".

Next training is Nov. 5 & 6, Sat. & Sun., at College of Marin

835 Magnolia Ave. in Kentfield. Sign up or find out more information at www.marincountycert.org or call 415-485-3409.