The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare themselves for hazards that may affect their communities. Since 1993, CERT has trained the public in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.

In addition, CERT volunteers participate in non-disaster events, such as identify and aid neighbors/coworkers who might need assistance, distribute preparedness materials, do demos, staff first aid booths at special events, assist with installation of smoke alarms, and participate in parade route management.

Would you like to be on a team dedicated to helping first responders in a crisis? We all have a role to play in keeping our communities safe—no matter where you live, no matter who you are, no matter how you participate. What role will you play? Once you complete your CERT training, you can participate in or lead a variety of activities.

The Carson City CERT Program utilizes Carson City Fire Department and other supporting agencies to prepare citizens for all kinds of emergencies and to aid local emergency services in the event of a disaster in their community. You don’t need any special skills or capabilities to join CERT; every community member can contribute, in their own way, to help their community be better prepared to respond to hazards. CERT will provide training to help you better prepare to help yourself, your family and friends, and your community.

As a teen, there are probably a lot of things you’re told you can’t do. But there is one very important thing you can do: Learn to protect yourself, your family, and your friends in case of disaster. Volunteers in the CERT Program come from all ages and all walks of life, including teenagers like you! Through Teen CERT, you can serve your community and help take care of your school and home.

In most emergencies, a bystander, or even the victim, provides the first immediate assistance. Joining Carson City Teen CERT teaches you how to respond when others look to you for help. During an emergency, the Carson City Teen CERT may organize volunteers, assist in evacuations, give assistance to survivors, provide damage assessment information, provide shelter support, and assist with crowd management.

Teen CERTs can also help in their schools year-round. Carson City Teen CERT may participate in disaster drills and exercises, present fire safety education, assist in preparedness outreach, provide peer mentoring, and address safety issues in the school.

• Ready.gov
  Being prepared means staying informed. Check all types of media – Web sites, newspapers, radio, TV, mobile and land phones – for global, national and local information. During an emergency, your local Emergency Management or Emergency Services office will give you information on such things as open shelters and evacuation orders.

• Federal Emergency Management Agency
  Disaster preparedness information.

• American Red Cross

• Nevada Division of Emergency Management