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What is a CERT?
A "CERT" is a group of people that is organized under the leadership of a local jurisdiction and receives special training that enhances their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency or disaster situation. Emergency responders train citizens and emergency management personnel in areas that will help them take care of themselves and others before, during and after a major emergency.
Why do we need CERT?
The ability of a community to recover from the devastating effects of a disaster requires that citizens actively plan and participate in preparedness. By encouraging preparedness efforts, hazard identification and mitigation, CERT members can minimize the effects of a disaster and facilitate recovery.
CERT training provides community self-sufficiency through the development of response teams that can assist others by providing vital services in the absence of emergency responders, whose arrival may be delayed due to a large event.
Why do we need YOU?
CERT provides an excellent opportunity for Long Beach Township
residents to play an important role in helping to safeguard, prepare for and respond to major emergencies and disasters in our community.
If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community's professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives.
CERT skills apply to daily emergencies as well.
The CERT course benefits anyone who takes it. Graduates are better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of natural disasters. Neighborhood groups receiving CERT training become closer-knit and are able to help each other when disaster strikes. CERT training provides people with information and experience that is unavailable anywhere else in most communities.
Who Can Volunteer?
Currently we are seeking CERT team members at least 18 years of age
that hold a valid drivers license and reside in Long Beach Township.
The primary qualification for volunteering with CERT is making a commitment:
- To take classes provided by the Long Beach Township
Police in emergency preparedness, response capabilities, first aid, fire suppression and search and rescue procedures.
- To educate your family, friends and neighbors on emergency preparedness and what to do in the event of an emergency.
- To help neighbors and co-workers take an active role in protecting themselves from harm by helping them develop a family disaster preparedness plan and preparing a disaster supplies kit, observe home health and safety practices, implement disaster mitigation measures, and participate in crime prevention and reporting.
- To participate in volunteer opportunities that will make the community safer.
- To maintain skills learned during CERT training.
How Can You Participate?
For more information or to request an information packet, please contact
Deputy Chief Houston by email at
lbtoem@longbeachtownship.com or by phone at
(609) 494-6900 Ext. #114
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