CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
Name	CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
Formation	1980s
Purpose	Disaster preparedness and response training
Region served	United States and international affiliates
Parent organization	Federal Emergency Management Agency

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) The Community Emergency Response Team program provides standardized disaster preparedness training to civilians to support Federal Emergency Management Agency initiatives and local FEMA regional outreach. Launched to augment response capabilities after major incidents, the program bridges municipal preparedness efforts with volunteer mobilization in municipalities such as Los Angeles, New York City, and Houston. CERT training supports coordination with agencies including Department of Homeland Security, American Red Cross, and state emergency management offices.

History and development

CERT originated from post-1980s civil preparedness discussions within Federal Emergency Management Agency and was formalized under initiatives influenced by events like the Northridge earthquake and policy shifts after Hurricane Andrew. Early pilots coordinated with jurisdictions such as Los Angeles Fire Department and program partners including American Red Cross and Salvation Army. The program expanded under directives associated with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and was integrated into broader community resilience agendas promoted by Department of Homeland Security. International adaptations emerged in municipalities partnering with organizations like United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and national agencies in countries such as Japan and Canada.

Organization and structure

CERT programs are typically administered at the local level by offices like county emergency management agencies (for example, Los Angeles County Emergency Management, King County Office of Emergency Management) and coordinated with regional FEMA infrastructure. Governance frameworks align with standards from entities such as National Incident Management System and operational doctrines influenced by Incident Command System. Volunteer governance often involves nonprofit partners such as American Red Cross, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster, and community-based organizations in cities like Chicago, Seattle, and Boston. Training delivery and credentialing are overseen by state emergency management offices and affiliated institutions including community colleges and vocational centers in states such as California, Texas, and Florida.

Training curriculum and certification

The CERT curriculum covers modules adopted from emergency management pedagogy used by Federal Emergency Management Agency and incorporates competencies recognized by professional organizations like National Fire Protection Association and International Association of Emergency Managers. Core topics include disaster preparedness, light search and rescue influenced by techniques practiced by departments such as Los Angeles Fire Department, basic first aid reflecting standards of American Red Cross, fire safety similar to protocols in New York City Fire Department, and scene management using Incident Command System principles. Training delivery varies by jurisdiction and can involve partnerships with institutions such as community colleges and nonprofit trainers like National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. Certification is typically awarded by county or state emergency management authorities and may be supplemented by credentialing systems used by Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster and local emergency medical services in municipalities like San Francisco and Miami.

Roles and responsibilities

CERT-trained volunteers perform tasks aligned with local emergency plans created by entities such as county emergency management offices and coordinated with agencies including Fire Departments and Police Departments. Typical responsibilities include conducting neighborhood preparedness outreach in neighborhoods like those in New Orleans and Pueblo, Colorado, performing light search and rescue under guidance similar to procedures in Los Angeles Fire Department, providing basic medical triage inspired by American Red Cross practices, and assisting with shelter operations with partners such as Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. Volunteers may also support events logistics in conjunction with municipal offices in cities such as Denver and Austin during incidents tied to hazards like Hurricane Katrina-scale flooding or earthquakes like the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.

Deployment and operations

Deployment protocols are typically activated by local emergency management directors in coordination with offices like FEMA regional offices and employ resource management concepts from National Incident Management System. Operations may range from neighborhood-level mitigation after severe storms in regions such as Midwest United States to multi-jurisdictional mutual aid during incidents resembling Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Maria. CERT activations often interface with mass care systems operated by American Red Cross and logistics frameworks used by Federal Emergency Management Agency, and they may be embedded in Unified Command structures alongside agencies like State Emergency Management Agency and municipal Police Departments. Internationally, adaptations have been used in cooperation with United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and national civil protection agencies.

Impact, evaluation, and criticisms

Evaluations by academic researchers at institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Johns Hopkins University have found benefits in community resilience measures and volunteer surge capacity, while also noting variability in retention, skill degradation, and integration with professional responders. Criticisms from scholars and practitioners affiliated with organizations like RAND Corporation and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies highlight inconsistent standards across jurisdictions, limited long-term funding from legislative frameworks such as state emergency appropriations, and potential liability concerns addressed in some locales through memoranda of understanding with entities like county health departments. Policy recommendations from think tanks and agencies including Homeland Security Affairs and National Academy of Sciences emphasize sustained training, interoperable credentialing, and strengthened partnerships with agencies including Federal Emergency Management Agency and nonprofit networks to enhance effectiveness.

Category:Emergency services