Residents of Raleigh with a knack for stepping up in times of crisis have an opportunity to harness that energy into tangible skills. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, backed by the Raleigh Fire Department (RFD), offers training for community members in disaster preparedness and response. According to an announcement posted by the Raleigh Fire Department, volunteers can learn fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations, among other critical skills.
Assistant Director of Emergency Management with RFD, Satwana Hurdle, underscored the value of these volunteers. "CERT members are trained volunteers who are committed to building a safe, prepared, and resilient community," Hurdle told City of Raleigh. She mentioned that successful completion of the Basic CERT training course does not obligate participants to join the team, even though it equips them to handle emergencies better in their homes and within the broader community.
The call for volunteers coincides with a free upcoming training session for anyone interested in honing their emergency response skills. The course, which covers the full gamut of the Basic CERT curriculum, is scheduled from Friday, April 4 through Sunday, April 6. It will take place at the Eastgate Neighborhood Center, providing accessible, hands-on education for Raleigh locals.
Registration for this course is essential, and those interested must sign up through the North Carolina Emergency Management's Training Exercise Response Management system (NC TERMS). The referred to as NC TERMS, the system helps manage the process, ensuring that all participants are accounted for and that resources are adequately prepared for the number of trainees. More information, including how to register, is available on RFD's website.
