Become a CERT Volunteer

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• CERT (Windows Media)

The events of September 11, 2001 inspired ordinary Americans to take an active role in the safety of their own communities. To harness this spirit of cooperation, the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program was created to organize volunteer services in the areas of crime, natural disasters and terrorism. In New Jersey, support for the CERT Program has been tremendous. New Jersey has established CERTs in every county. At least one CERT Coordinator has been designated for each county (County Cert Coordinators). Additional support comes from businesses and municipalities which are also creating their own CERTs.

The CERT Program is designed to give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site, and collect disaster intelligence to support first responders.

CERT Training consists of approximately 20 hours of instruction over an eight-week period. Classes are taught by emergency responders, including firefighters, emergency medical and law enforcement personnel from the community. CERT members are provided basic-level training in the following areas at no cost to the individual or the business:

• Disaster preparedness
• Disaster fire suppression
• Disaster Medical Operations Part 1
• Disaster Medical Operations Part 2
• Light Search & Rescue Operations
• Disaster Psychology & Team Organization
• Terrorism
• Disaster Simulation – Skills Review

You can become better prepared by joining CERT!
Contact 1-877-CERT-411 or NJN Audience Services at answers@njn.org or 800-882-6622. You must be at least 18 years of age.
For more information visit NJ CERT at www.state.nj.us/njoem/emb_cert.html

CERT and the Business Community

The New Jersey business and industry sector has been instrumental in implementing the CERT Program in the workplace or business. New Jersey Business Force members and their employees have become involved in homeland security directly as part of the community as represented by the business itself or indirectly by participating in a CERT program where their employees reside.

MITRE:

“Working with their Eatontown neighbors and the Eatontown Police Department, several employees of the MITRE Corporation have volunteered for training as part of the national Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) activity, which will provide valuable support to local communities in the event of a major hazard or terrorist act. MITRE is a not-for-profit company working in the public interest to address problems of critical national importance. As such, we manage three federally funded research and development centers sponsored by the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service. We are proud of and applaud the efforts of our employees who extend their commitment to serve our public interest mission by offering their time and energy to this worthwhile community activity. Employee dedication to public service as measured by Fortune magazine was one factor that resulted in MITRE appearing for the fourth consecutive year on its list of 100 BEST Companies to Work For in America.“

– MITRE Corp.

New Jersey Resources (NJR):

CERT graduation ceremony at NJR Headquarters in Wall

New Jersey Resources (NJR), the parent company of New Jersey Natural Gas, is the first business in Monmouth County to graduate employees from the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. Thirteen employees completed 24 hours of training in disaster preparedness and basic disaster response skills. NJR’s employees were trained in basic disaster response skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Through their instruction, they have a better sense of potential hazards in the workplace and community. CERT members are able to give critical support and aid to associates and neighbors in emergency situations until help arrives.

“The success of the CERT program at NJR shows that there is a place for volunteerism in both the workplace and the community,” said Harry Conover, Coordinator of the Monmouth County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). “If these graduates are faced with an emergency in the future, I am confident in their ability to respond effectively to assist their co-workers and neighbors. I hope that more businesses and community members will take an interest in the program to make our community a safer place to work and live.”

NJ CERT volunteers assist fellow citizens in Florida

New Jersey CERT-trained citizens have distinguished themselves during times of crises and answered the call to service even when it was in another state. In 2004, New Jersey sent 122 of its CERT-trained citizens to the State of Florida to assist in the aftermath of the hurricanes that devastated that state. After their training in Atlanta, Georgia, these individuals were assigned to different parts of Florida as community relations officers. These volunteers sacrificed their time with their families to be with those in time of need and despair and played a vital role in the rebuilding efforts for the victims of the hurricanes.