Volunteering and CERT Training Mission The CERT program was developed because of the need for a trained civilian emergency workforce. The CERT Program provides for community self-sufficiency through the development of multifunctional response teams who act as adjunct to the countys emergency services during major disasters. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of their community. Join CERT CERT is open to anyone! Click here to join our CERT program! History The CERT program was first developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985, and the first CERT Team completed its training in early 1986. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now uses the program as a national model for other communities, and President Bush endorses this training as part of the Citizen Corps Program. How it Works The basic CERT training program is a 20-hour course, typically delivered one evening per week over an 8-week period. Training sessions cover disaster preparedness, fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, team organization and terrorism awareness. The training concludes with a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills that they learned throughout the course. Who are CERT Students? School Administrators Public Agency Workers Church Members Homeowners Association Members City Employees Business and Industry Community Groups Concerned Citizens Why Should I Take CERT Training? If there is a natural or man-made event that overwhelms or delays the community's professional responders, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they learned during their CERT training. These skills can help save and sustain lives until help arrives. CERT members also can volunteer for special projects that improve a community's preparedness. Neighbors Helping Neighbors Being trained on how to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in your own community is on of the most important things you can do to assist during an emergency. You don't have to become a CERT member to participate in and complete the training. By completing the training you will be able to assist yourself, your family and your neighbors during a major emergency or disaster. CERT Objectives Upon completion of the CERT program, you will be able to: Describe the types of hazards that are most likely to affect your home and community Take steps to prepare yourself for a disaster Identify and reduce potential fire hazards in your home or workplace Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions Perform head-to-toe patient assessment Employ basic treatments for various wounds, and apply splints to suspected fractures and sprains Describe ways to protect rescuers during light search and rescue operations http://www.mctxoem.org/go/feed/1945/dt/52903/atom10/ Montgomery County OEM 2012-05-02T15:49:39Z The Woodlands and Lone Star CERT Teams in Action

Five Community Groups Provided Emergency Response Support at The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival

Posted by The Woodlands | Posted on 05-01-2012 | Comments (0)

Category : Articles, Current Issue

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival welcomed the support of five new community groups to this year’s event on April 14 – 15, including The Woodlands Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), the Montgomery County Search & Rescue (MCOSAR) team, the Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), the South Texas American Radio Relay League (ARRL -HAM radio operators) and the Lone Star College CERT team, according to Jenny Wright, Festival Director.

The Woodlands CERT Committee and Lone Star CERT deployed support teams in the venue parking lots to provide safety/security, traffic control and answer visitors’ questions as well as providing a back-up response capability in the event of an emergency. MRC provided emergency medical personnel to support first aid efforts, and ARRL deployed teams and equipment for emergency communications during the festival.  MCOSAR provided personnel to support any lost child or related search efforts.

In addition, The Woodlands CERT prepared the risk assessment and emergency response plan for the festival and provided real-time severe weather monitoring and personnel to help man the command center during this year’s event.

“With the threat of severe weather on Sunday, April 15, it was reassuring to have our weather expert from The Woodlands CERT on hand to monitor the situation and advise us on the best course of action,” Wright said. “We are extremely grateful to all the members of these community agencies who helped ensure that this year’s festival was the safest ever, and we look forward to their participation in the years to come.”

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is produced annually by The Woodlands Waterway Arts Council, a 501 © (3) nonprofit organization. For more information, visit www. woodlandsartsfestival.com.

]]> 2012-05-02T15:49:39Z http://www.mctxoem.org/go/doc/1945/1420923/ Volunteering and CERT Training Montgomery County 2012-05-02T15:49:39Z National CERT 2010-04-23T18:45:10Z http://www.mctxoem.org/go/doc/1945/529423/ Volunteering and CERT Training Montgomery County 2010-04-23T18:45:10Z CERT Pamphlet 2010-04-23T15:20:42Z http://www.mctxoem.org/go/doc/1945/529099/ Volunteering and CERT Training Montgomery County 2010-04-23T15:20:42Z