The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is an official emergency preparedness program of FEMA. CERT trains community members at no cost on how to safely and effectively prepare for and respond to disasters. CERT empowers people by teaching them the skills to help keep themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods safer.
     
    The concept of CERT was first developed and implemented by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 after a series of devastating earthquakes. While the professional emergency responders were overwhelmed with the catastrophe, thousands were left dead, injured, and without emergency services. Hundreds of citizens spontaneously and heroically sprung into action to rescue others, but tragically more than 100 of them ended up losing their own lives in the process. This event emphasized the need to teach community members life-saving disaster response skills.
    
    In 1993, the CERT program was made nationally available by FEMA. After September 11, 2001, people in every corner of the country asked, "What can I do?" and "How can I help?" A program named Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions. Citizen Corps became the umbrella for five programs: CERT, Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps, Volunteers in Police Service, and Neighborhood Watch. All of these programs center on citizens embracing a personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders, disaster relief, and community safety. While under the umbrella of Citizen Corps, the CERT program's strength grew across the country.  
    
    The reality is that professional emergency responders can not be everywhere at once in a disaster. People need to know how to help themselves. If there is a natural or man-made event that overwhelms or delays the community’s professional emergency responders, CERT members have the basic skills to help themselves and those around them. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can save lives, protect property, and prevent themselves from becoming victims.  
    
    CERT members may also assist emergency responders when needed. In Edgewater, FL, the local CERT team staffed the firehouse during the 1998 Florida wildfires. They answered phones, collected donations, and tended to the firefighters returning from 12 hour shifts of fighting the blazes. CERT members furthermore act as eyes and ears throughout the community. They can provide crucial information to their local Emergency Management regarding where damages and the greatest needs are during and after an event. Also, CERT teams can provide security and first aid help at community events, help with safety projects in their neighborhoods, and help raise community awareness about CERT and other Citizen Corps programs. 
    
    In addition to promoting a partnership between emergency responders and the people they serve, CERT promotes communication and partnership among community members.

CERT in Okaloosa County

Where are CERTs?
With more than 500 citizens trained in Okaloosa County to date, we currently have 400 active CERT members with teams functioning in Shalimar, Poquito Bayou, Cinco Bayou, Garnier's Beach, Ocean City - Wright, south Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Niceville, and Crestview.


How much time does CERT require?
Aside from the 20 hours of training required to become CERT certified, CERT is not a very time consuming program. Teams typically hold one hour meetings between four and six times a year. Though, further volunteer and training opportunities exist for those who would like to be more involved.


What if I have other obligations?
CERT is completely voluntary. CERT members are expected to take care of primary obligations to one's self, family, and job before volunteering. Any little bit a volunteer can do to help the community is appreciated greatly, but the prime goal of the CERT program is to teach citizens skills so they can respond effectively and efficiently to help themselves and those around them in an emergency situation. 


How does CERT work here?
CERT in Okaloosa County functions at the neighborhood level, as CERT teams are organized by geographic location. Teams are ideally made up of one Team Chief, a second in command, a ham radio operator, and members to serve various roles pre/post event. In some of the larger areas, the large team is broken down into smaller subgroups with individual subgroup leaders. 

Because we live on the Gulf Coast, CERT is primarily focused on hurricane recovery. About 48 - 36 hours before a hurricane landfall in our area, CERT Team Chiefs will be called to a briefing by Okaloosa County Emergency Management Coordinator in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). After that briefing, Team Chiefs will organize and brief their team members.

Once the storm has passed and conditions are safe to go outside, teams are to assemble at a pre-determined location and start assessing their area. Initial objectives are to clear roads of movable debris, make sure house numbers are visible, assess damages, and identify the area's needs. Once needs are identified and prioritized, they are to be reported to the county's EOC and/or local emergency officials.

In a large disaster, CERT teams may assist their local fire departments with search and rescue efforts, triage, and emergency first aid to victims. One of the main goals of CERT is to supplement professional emergency responders if/when needed.

CERT members also provide support to Emergency Management in many capacities; one such example is working Points of Distribution (PODs) handing out sand bags or food & water.

 
CERT Rules and Regulations

1. You are not a Sheriff's Deputy or Fire Fighter.
   You are trained to function as an extension of the fire department's response to catastrophic disasters when such circumstances exist or when directed by emergency services officials.
2. You are forbidden to carry guns, knives, sticks or other weapons.
   You have been trained for immediate disaster response and there is no need, place or legal authorization for you to carry or use any of the above. To do so will jeopardize your own safety and the continued existence of the CERT program in Okaloosa County.
3. Your first responsibility is to yourself and your family.
   When disaster occurs your first responsibility is to ensure you own safety and the safety of your family. You should not venture out on your own to start search & rescue operations without your team members.
4. Contact your CERT Leader.
   If disaster occurs such as a hurricane, tornado, plane crash, etc. After ensuring that you and your family are safe, you should assemble with your CERT leader and group for additional instruction and directions. Your CERT leader is your point of contact for the Fire and Sheriff Departments. Do not attempt to contact the Fire Department or Sheriff's Office directly unless it is a life-threatening emergency.
5. If you cannot reach your CERT Leader
   due to phone lines down, power off, etc., respond to your pre-designated rally point for your neighborhood CERT. Do this only when you are sure it is safe to do so. Do not leave a place of safety during a storm.
6. Bring all of your recommended safety gear and badge.
   When functioning as a member of the Okaloosa County CERT team, you should always have your issued CERT badge with you and display it on the outside of your clothing. Furthermore, wearing recommended safety gear would insure your basic safety requirements are met.
7. Stay within the scope of your training.
   You have been trained under the curriculum of FEMA's Community Emergency Response Team program. Please confine your actions to those guidelines and stay within the scope of your training and certification.
8. Stay within your limitations.
   You must confine your actions to your physical and resource limitations when responding as a member of a CERT. Such limitations maybe determined by, but not limited to, equipment available, physical abilities, knowledge, authority, hazards, etc.