COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)
The Neptune Township Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) is a group that is trained and available to respond when called to emergencies and disasters in the township and when requested, to surrounding communities.
The C.E.R.T. team will be expected to assist many of the townships emergency services and support initiatives, such as: working our shelters, assisting in distributing important information to residents, supporting Fire/EMS/O.E.M. during large scale emergencies, and many other functions that are vital to the community.
What is C.E.R.T.? The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.
Interested in joining? Volunteers will be required to fill out an application and successfully pass a background check. Once complete, new members must attend the basic C.E.R.T. training class. This program will educate members about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, C.E.R.T. members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. C.E.R.T. members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
C.E.R.T. is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. C.E.R.T. is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference.