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CERT Program Registration Begins January 25th
FEMA Announcement
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Community Emergency Response Teams
 

CERT Program Registration Begins January 25th

FEMA Announcement

This CERT Program Notification is provided by FEMA's Individual & Community Preparedness Division.

 

New Registration Initiative for CERT Programs and Citizen Corps Councils Begins January 25th
FEMA has two improved online registries that will help capture the community readiness efforts of local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Programs and Citizen Corps Councils.  FEMA is asking all new and pre-existing local CERT Programs to register on the National CERT or Citizen Corps websites. 

The CERT registry will collect information for each registered program to provide a snapshot of local successes. It will allow CERT Programs to highlight basic and supplemental training activities, CERTs in action in non-emergency functions and in disaster response, and local program policies and procedures. The registration includes a total of 29 questions.

This effort will recognize the tremendous work accomplished to date and serve as a baseline for future individual and community preparedness and resiliency projects.

Every local CERT Program and Citizen Corps Council is required to register if they wish to have a listing in the CERT and Citizen Corps directories on the national websites. Please note that only CERT Programs and Citizen Corps Councils may register. The registry is not for individual CERT teams that are organized within a CERT Program.

More information and guidance documents for registration are available on the CERT Program registration support pages at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm. The website provides a registration fact sheet, registration questions and contact information for technical assistance and support. Similar information for local Citizen Corps Councils is located at http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/registry.shtm

For local CERT Programs and Citizen Corps Councils ONLY:
We thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this important and valuable effort.  If you haven't already, please visit the CERT Program registration support pages located at http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/registry.shtm or the Citizen Corps Council support pages at http://www.citizencorps.gov/councils/registry.shtm.  We've provided you with resources that will help guide you through the new registration process and contact information should you have technical difficulties or a programmatic inquiry and need to reach an expert.  We encourage you to review and print the questions for the CERT or Citizen Corps registry prior to the system going live on January 25th, 2011 so that you may collect information in advance if needed.

Next week we are offering a series of webinars to walk CERT Programs through the updated system and to allow users to ask questions.  Do not worry if you can't make one or both offerings. All webinars will be recorded and posted to the registration support web pages after live sessions occur.  Please note that you will only be able to access the webinar 15 minutes prior to show time.

Webinar for State CERT and Citizen Corps Council Coordinators

Monday, January 24th 2011 at 2:00 – 3:00 PM EDT
Webinar access: https://connect.hsin.gov/registry

First Offering: Webinar for local CERT Programs
CERT Programs:  Tuesday, January 25th 2011 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
Webinar Access: https://connect.hsin.gov/registry

Second Offering: Webinar for local CERT Programs

CERT Programs:  Wednesday, January 26th 2011 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM EDT
Webinar Access: https://connect.hsin.gov/registry

Also, for local Citizen Corps Councils:

First Offering: Webinar for local Citizen Corps Councils
Citizen Corps Councils: Tuesday, January 25th 2011 at 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT
Webinar Access: https://connect.hsin.gov/registry

Second Offering: Webinar for local Citizen Corps Councils

Citizen Corps Councils: Wednesday, January 26th 2011 at 1:00 – 2:00 PM EDT
Webinar Access: https://connect.hsin.gov/registry

Sincerely,

The National CERT Program Office
FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division

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Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.