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	COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAMS’ RESPOND *Sam Isenberger FEMA's Emergency Management Institute* Unfortunately, over the past months there was Hurricane Isabel as well as wildfires, tornadoes and floods that struck communities across the country. Following these events, there were reports about actions taken by CERTs to prepare for these hazards and to assist emergency responders and neighbors.
In Kansas after devastating tornadoes, CERTs from Olathe activated and helped neighbors with cleanup. In Arizona during the wildfires, CERTs in the Mount Lemmon Fire District helped with evacuation and then with reseeding burned out areas. Following Hurricane Isabel in Virginia and the District of Columbia, CERTs filled sandbags, directed traffic, evacuated residents, disseminated information to community members, identified and marked downed power lines; and performed damage assessment. In California, the Los Angeles and Simi-Valley Fire Departments reported that CERTs were used extensively to support their efforts by working in the Emergency Operations Center and performing duties that freed professional firefighters for other activities during the wildfires. In Washington State, CERTs activated and worked with the Red Cross on community relations and cleanup activities after the floods.
One of the goals of CERT training is to develop a partnership and working relationship between the sponsoring agency and the CERT members. These reports show that this was accomplished. CERTs performed activities that supported emergency responders in providing services that benefited their community. The President and Congress continue to support the Citizens Corps Program of which CERT is a charter member. They have allocated $40 million in the 2004 budget to support Citizen Corps Programs and community volunteerism. States and Territories are in the process of applying for these funds.
To further support of CERT program, look for a web-based Independent Study called “Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams”. It is scheduled to go on line in December and there will be a link on the CERT website at http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/CERT/. This Independent Study will introduce people to the CERT concept and material and prepare them for the classroom training. Also for those who have completed CERT training, it will reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. Give it a try and received a certificate upon completion.

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