When Disaster Strikes

The damage caused by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, or from manmade/technological events such as explosions or hazardous materials accidents can affect all aspects of a community, from government services to private enterprise to civic activities. These events:

     • Severely restrict or overwhelm our response resources, communications, transportation, and utilities; and 

     • Leave many individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside support. 

Damaged roads and disrupted communications systems may restrict the access of emergency response agencies into critically affected areas. Thus, for the initial period immediately following a disaster—often up to three days or longer—individuals, households, and neighborhoods may need to rely on their own resources for:

    • Food; 

    • Water; and 

    • Shelter. 

Individual preparedness, planning, survival skills, and mutual aid within neighborhoods and worksites during this initial period are essential measures in managing the aftermath of a disaster. What you do today will have a critical impact on the quality of your survival and your ability to help others safely and effectively. You will be more resilient to a potentially disruptive event by learning about the likely hazards in your community and your community’s plans and protocols, understanding hazard-specific protective actions and response skills, assembling important emergency supplies, and mitigating potential hazards in your home. Subsequently, you will be an important asset to your family, neighbors, and other members of your community. 

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, a national program supported by FEMA, educates individuals and families about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and first aid.  The CERT program is critical in the effort to engage everyone in the United States in making their communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient when incidents occur. 

Community-based preparedness planning allows us all to prepare for and respond to anticipated disruptions and potential hazards following a disaster. As individuals, we can prepare our homes and families to cope during that critical period. Through pre-event planning, neighborhoods, and worksites can also work together to help reduce injuries, loss of lives, and property damage. Neighborhood preparedness will enhance the ability of individuals and communities to reduce their emergency needs and to manage their existing resources until professional assistance becomes available. 

Studies of behavior following disasters have shown that groups working together in the disaster period perform more effectively if there has been prior planning and training for disaster response. These studies also show that organized grassroots efforts may be more successful if they are woven into the social and political fabric of the community— neighborhood associations, schools, workplaces, places of worship, and other existing organizations. 

Effective response, therefore, requires comprehensive planning and coordination of all who will be involved—government, volunteer groups, private businesses, schools, and community organizations. With training and information, individuals and community groups can be prepared to serve as a crucial resource capable of performing many of the emergency functions needed in the immediate post-disaster period. The CERT program trains individuals to be assets to help communities prepare for effective disaster response. 

What CERT is:

• Community-Based:

CERT programs are local and community-based, meaning they are designed to help residents of a specific area prepare for and respond to disasters that might affect their community. 

• Training:

CERT training provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to assist their families, neighbors, and coworkers in the immediate aftermath of a disaster when professional responders may not be available. 

What you'll learn in CERT training:

• Disaster Preparedness: Learn about potential hazards in your area and how to prepare for them. 
• Fire Safety: Learn basic fire safety skills, including how to extinguish small fires and prevent them from spreading. 
• Light Search and Rescue: Learn how to safely search for and rescue victims in a disaster situation. 
• Disaster Medical Operations: Learn basic first aid and medical skills, including how to treat injuries and provide basic medical care. 
• Team Organization: Learn how to organize and work effectively as a team during a disaster. 
• Disaster Psychology: Learn about the psychological effects of disasters and how to help others cope with stress. 
• Other Skills: You may also learn about utility control, hazard identification, and disaster intelligence collection. 

How to get involved:

• Find your local CERT program: Contact your local fire department, emergency management agency, or city council to find out if they have a CERT program and how to join. 
• Take the training: CERT training is typically free and requires approximately 20-30 hours of training. 
• Become a volunteer: Once you complete the training, you can become a CERT volunteer and help your community in the event of a disaster. 

 A college or university campus often functions as a “city within a city,” and often has its own emergency management capabilities. A Campus CERT program can support and enhance existing capabilities and CERT volunteers can participate in efforts to increase the preparedness and resilience of the on-campus community. The first people on the scene of an incident available to provide assistance are almost always other survivors – including family members, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and classmates – not professional responders. Providing training in basic response skills to the community means more people are prepared to help during an emergency. In addition, training and organizing volunteers into teams helps to ensure that they can provide assistance in a more effective, safe, and responsible manner. Campus CERT volunteers can also support the non-emergency needs of the college or university. For example, appropriately trained Campus CERT volunteers can help manage traffic and crowds at large sporting events or other major campus functions, such as graduation ceremonies. However, while CERT volunteers learn a variety of skills, they are not professional responders and should not act beyond their training.

The college or university department responsible for campus safety should take the lead (or at least be a major partner) in developing and implementing a Campus CERT program, and should also be responsible for activating Campus CERT volunteers and directing their activities. Depending upon the college or university, the name of that department may vary (e.g. Campus Emergency Management, Campus Police, Campus Security, and Public Safety). Throughout this document, college or university officials responsible for campus safety will simply be referred to as “Campus Safety.” 

You should also coordinate with local community law enforcement or emergency management officials, and consult with other appropriate parties on campus, including campus leadership and legal counsel. Federal, state, and local government officials generally expect Campus CERT programs to limit their activities, especially response activities, to campus property. However, Campus CERT programs may be able to support CERT activities elsewhere in the community at the invitation of a local government emergency response organization (typically a police or fire department or emergency management agency), or per the terms of a formal agreement between the institution of higher education that oversees the program and a local government emergency response organization. 

A Workplace CERT program can support and enhance existing capabilities, and CERT volunteers can participate in efforts to increase the preparedness and resilience of the workplace and community. A Workplace CERT program equips employees with skills that enable them to perform basic disaster response operations in an emergency. Having trained volunteers available on staff helps protect the health, safety, and lives of people at your workplace. Workplace CERT volunteers are trained using the CERT Basic Training curriculum. 

A CERT program can increase workplace resilience by increasing personal preparedness, allowing employees to return to work more quickly after a disaster. For organizations with a large public-facing component, such as grocery stores or shopping malls, CERT can also help serve the public in the event of an emergency. CERT training will ensure employees have the knowledge and skills to act quickly. Workplace CERT volunteers can also support the non-emergency needs of the workplace. For example, appropriately trained Workplace CERT volunteers can help manage traffic and crowds at large events and functions. However, while CERT volunteers learn a variety of skills, they are not professional responders and should not act beyond their training.

Federal, state, and local government officials generally expect Workplace CERT programs to limit their activities, especially response activities, to workplace property. However, Workplace CERT programs may be able to support CERT activities elsewhere in the community at the invitation of a local government emergency response organization (typically a police or fire department or emergency management agency), or per the terms of a formal agreement between the business or organization that oversees the Workplace CERT program and a local government emergency response organization. 

Some employers may be interested in making CERT training available to employees, but not necessarily starting their own program. If that is the case at your workplace, please reach out to your local CERT program or your state CERT program manager to ask if they can provide training for employees. You can look up the contact information for your local CERT program at www.fema.gov/cert and for your state program manager by going to www.ready.gov/citizen-corps/find-my-state-program-manager and clicking on “state/territory point of contact.” 

Fort Sam Houston has a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. This program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic skills like fire safety and light search and rescue. The program aims to equip individuals with the skills to assist others and protect themselves during emergencies, especially when professional responders are delayed or overwhelmed, according to FEMA. 

The CERT program at Fort Sam Houston, part of Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA), also includes training on first aid, basic medical assistance, and disaster scene triage. This training helps volunteers become more confident and effective in their ability to help others in emergency situations, says Fort Sam Houston's M&FRC. 

Additionally, the Defense Medical Readiness Training Institute (DMRTI), located at Fort Sam Houston, offers various medical training programs, including those related to disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance. This reinforces the commitment to emergency preparedness and response within the Fort Sam Houston community.