The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) works with the City of Salem Fire Department through the City of Salem Emergency Preparedness Manager.
CERTs respond in the period immediately after a disaster when response resources are overwhelmed or delayed. … While CERTs are a valuable asset in emergency response, CERTs are not trained to perform all of the functions or respond to the same degree as professional responders. CERTs are a bridge to professional responders until they are able to arrive. (From the CERT Basic Training Participants Manual (FEMA P-925/September 2012)
CERT: The ultimate neighborly thing to do.
In a natural disaster, helping your neighbors in an organized and pre-planned fashion is what CERT is all about.
- Ensure you and your family are safe.
- Check on neighbors on your block or immediate vicinity, especially those who are most vulnerable.
- If you are willing and able, report to the command post (Salemtowne Cache Area to the right of the pool) and offer your assistance, equipment and experience.
Salemtowne is part of West Salem’s Zone 7 which encompasses the area from Michigan City Avenue and Lake Vanessa Circle at the top of Wallace Road down to Brush College Road. Salemtowne has the highest concentration of CERT volunteers in Zone 7.
Although it is highly recommended, all Zone 7 committee members are not CERT Certified; however, the members all have a willingness to learn, practice and to help our neighbors. CERT Certification can be obtained simply by attending the Basic Training Class made up of eight 2 ½ hour sessions sponsored by the Salem Fire Department and presented by CERT Volunteer Trainers.
History of CERT
(From Ready.gov)
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. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs.
CERT became a national program in 1993. There are now CERT programs in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. Each is unique to its community and all are essential to building a Culture of Preparedness in the United States. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide and more than 600,000 people have trained since CERT became a national program.
\Whether you are interested in getting involved or want more information, contact Mel Ito, West Salem CERT, Zone 7 Team Leader and Salemtowne resident. Email: [email protected]
Learn More at: Ready.gov then search for CERT
Oregon.gov then search for Cascadia Subduction Zone
