The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is made up of volunteers of all ages, occupations, and locations throughout Hanover County. CERT teaches people how to take care of themselves, their family, and their community until Fire-EMS can arrive. For more information contact us at: [email protected]
The concept of CERT was born in the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. They realiz
ed that, during major disasters such as earthquakes, first responders would not be able to meet the demands for fire and medical services. People would have to be self reliant to help meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs. Among the subjects taught during the basic CERT class are:
• fire suppression
• light search & rescue and cribbing
• triage and basic first aid techniques
• basic preparedness
• incident command structure
We have assisted with multiple COVID pandemic events (vaccination centers, food and hot spot distributions for Hanover Schools), the Virginia Operations Plan Exercise (VOPEX) 2014 – a simulated radiological emergency at the North Anna Nuclear Power Station, the Robert Wood Jr. search, the Louisa earthquake, water/ice distribution, and public service events. Our members have gone on to take more advanced courses and certifications such as damage assessment, Red Cross Shelter Operations, NOAA SkyWarn, compass/map reading, disaster psychology, hazmat, and electrical safety.
