Developing, engaging, and sustaining CERT programs in low-risk communities

Authors

  • Michael S. Mitchell, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jem.0853

Keywords:

Community Emergency Response Team, CERT

Abstract

I am a recently trained (2021) volunteer in my county’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which is managed by the County Fire and Rescue Department. As you know, CERT programs train volunteers in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search-and-rescue, so that they can assist their families, neighbors, coworkers, and other community members during emergencies when professional responders may be unavailable to provide immediate assistance.

Author Biography

Michael S. Mitchell, PhD

Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Hershey, Pennsylvania

References

Federal Emergency Management Agency: (2020, May 1). IS-317.A: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs) [Online course material]. Emergency Management Institute, May 1, 2020. Available at https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-317.a&lang=en. Accessed March 26, 2024.

US Census Bureau: 2020 Census Apportionment Results. US Department of Commerce. April 26, 2021. Available at https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2020/dec/2020-apportionment-data.html. Accessed March 26, 2024.

Flint C, Brennan M: Community Emergency Response Teams: From Disaster Responders to Community Builders. Rural Realities. 2006; 1(3): 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fy841-2006

Flint CG, Stevenson J: Building community disaster preparedness with volunteers: Community emergency response team. Natural Hazards Review. December 15, 2009; 11(3). DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000014

DeVito M, Wood E, Frazier T: Standardization and interoperability of small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS) for disaster management. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. 2022; 19(2): 175-203. DOI: 10.1515/jhsem-2021-0028. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/jhsem-2021-0028

Fernandez LS, Barbera JA, Van Dorp JR: Strategies for managing volunteers during incident response: A systems approach. Homeland Security Affairs. 2006; 2(3). Available at https://www.hsaj.org/articles/684. Accessed March 27, 2024.

Published

04/01/2024

How to Cite

Mitchell, M. S. “Developing, Engaging, and Sustaining CERT Programs in Low-Risk Communities”. Journal of Emergency Management, vol. 22, no. 2, Apr. 2024, pp. 115-8, doi:10.5055/jem.0853.

Issue

Section

Letters to the Editor