CERT

Harlingen Fire Department - Volunteer & Community Programs

We welcome our friends and neighbors, School Administrators, Public Agency Workers, Church Members, Homeowners Associations, City Employees, Business Industry, Community groups — come one, come all. The CERT Team in Harlingen holds its meetings every 2nd Tuesday of the month Station 8 3510 E. Grimes Street. Come check it out!

The Community Emergency Response Team program trains volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters that their community may face through hands-on practice and realistic exercises. CERT members learn how to help organize basic disaster response, to promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events and how to safely respond to man-made and natural hazards. You may download an application and brochure using the links below.

The CERT program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that many impact their area and trains them on basic disaster response skills. Some topics are fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness and basic disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach in volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. The training concludes with a disaster simulation in which participants practice skills they learned.

The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire department in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. This confirmed the necessity for a trained civilian emergency workforce to meet immediate needs. FEMA uses this program as a national model. Other CERT program managers establish and maintain Teen CERT, Campus CERT and Workplace CERT.

Why you should take this 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 they have learned. These skills can help save and sustain lives until professional help arrives. Also, Neighbors Helping Neighbors — being trained on how to better prepare to respond to emergency situations in your own community is one of the most important things you can do in an emergency. By completing the training, you will be better able to assist yourself, your family and your neighbors during a major emergency or disaster.