Does your town have a C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team)? These are your friends and neighbors who have volunteered to help your community in the event of an emergency or disaster, when first responders are overwhelmed or unable to respond immediately. These people also help the community by promoting awareness of hazards and disaster preparedness, assisting fire department and law enforcement, and even installing smoke detectors for the elderly and disabled. You can recognize them by their signature green and yellow vests.
So how can you help your local C.E.R.T.? Get involved. If you live in Small Town America contact your local town council or mayor’s office. If you live in a larger town or big city, contact your local emergency management agency. These people can direct you to the proper organization.
Don’t have a C.E.R.T. in your community? Make one. You can google it or go to https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ or www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams to learn more. These websites have all the information you need to get started.
Another good way to support your local C.E.R.T. is to donate. You can donate supplies or any kind, such as rope, gloves, flashlights, etc. Do you have a friend or neighbor who participates as a member of C.E.R.T.? Show your support by buying them a CERT Starter kit. A good place to find C.E.R.T. equipment is here.
So go out there and show your support. Hopefully you and your family will never have to experience a disaster. But if you do, you can take some comfort in knowing that your local C.E.R.T. will be there to help.
By Jason M. Watts (Contributing Writer to 1800prepare.com)