What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates families and individuals about preparing for disasters or hazards that may impact their area. CERT trains people in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an incident until professional emergency responders and critical resources arrive. CERT members promote emergency preparedness, give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to survivors, collect disaster information to support first responder efforts and provide help in the period immediately following a major emergency or disaster. CERT enables individuals to help their families and neighbors prepare, respond and recover within their own neighborhood.

CERT training is free and open to anyone who lives, works or congregates in the District of Columbia. When emergencies happen, CERT members can provide critical support to first responders, immediate assistance to survivors and can help organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve community safety.

Areas of Training Include (but not limited to):

To be a DC CERT Volunteer, you must meet the following:

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age
• Successfully complete the FEMA standardized training program
• Comply with the rules and policies set forth by Serve DC/ The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships
• Sign up and obtain a FEMA Student ID (SID).
• Complete FEMA Independent Study (IS) 100 & 700 training.
• Submit and pass a basic District background check
• Participate in the final class drill and written exam

Active DC CERT Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Maintain yourself and your own household in a state of readiness so that you can effectively respond to events in your neighborhood and serve as an example to others.
• Maintain current personal profile data.
• Maintain personal and organizational equipment in good condition.
• Participate in at least one exercise every year.

How Do I Get Involved?

Serve DC has an open entry policy. Applications are accepted from individuals throughout the city. In addition to the knowledge gained from CERT training, by studying together, volunteer trainees will develop the important skills necessary to work as a cohesive team. The skills and knowledge gained in CERT training will serve you well in an emergency situation and your example may serve to encourage your neighbors or co-workers to become members of a CERT. You may also qualify to serve in one of several designated volunteer jobs assisting Serve DC/The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships.

The final session includes a practical exam comprised of a set of disaster simulations to give trainees the ability to apply their newly acquired skills in a semi-realistic environment. Continuing and advanced education is available for interested graduates. CERT members will be given CERT materials and a CERT Go-Bag upon the completion and meeting all training requirements. Only members who have been issued an identification card are eligible for deployment during and following a major emergency or disaster. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

DC CERT Activation Policies and Procedures

DC CERT may be placed on ‘standby’ or ‘active’ duty by the Director/Chief Service Officer of Serve DC/ The Mayor’s Office on Volunteerism and Partnerships. The CERT Manager/Leadership Chair (or designee) is notified of the need to activate, and then the ‘call-out’ protocol is implemented. CERT does not self-deploy.

Your priorities are ALWAYS:

• Life Safety FIRST
• Incident Stabilization
• Property/Environment Conservation

Team functions can be combined; you will need to be flexible to handle situations as they arise. Improvise, adapt and overcome. A map can be very useful. Write it down; if it is not written down, it does not happen.

To request information of CERT training please complete the form below.