Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.)

The Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, C.E.R.T. members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. C.E.R.T. members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

Train-the-Trainer Course

The C.E.R.T. course is taught in the community by a trained team of first responders who have completed a C.E.R.T. Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI), located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. C.E.R.T. training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations. Over the next two years, the C.E.R.T. program aims to double the number of participants, with over 400,000 individuals completing the 20 plus hours of training. Train-the-Trainer sessions will be held in all 56 states and territories over the next year to expand the program throughout the United States.

Join the Team

If you are interested in taking the C.E.R.T. training or would like information on joining the Douglas County C.E.R.T., please call 509-884-0941 during business hours, or complete and return the C.E.R.T. Application (PDF) to the Sheriff's Office. If you have any questions feel free to call or email Sheriff Kevin Morris.