Full Notification

Maricopa, Ariz May 1, 2013


City of Maricopa Fire Department Starts Community Emergency Response Team Program


Beginning May 15th the City of Maricopa Fire Department will offer interested citizens the opportunity to participate in a program that aids emergency responders in the event of a disaster. The Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T) program educates community members for disaster preparedness operations and trains them in basic disaster response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and medical operations during a disaster. Featuring both classroom and field exercises the course teaches CERT members how to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace in the event professional responders are unable to immediately provide service. For six Wednesdays from 6:30p.m. to 9p.m. at the City of Maricopa Copa Center, participants will be educated about emergency procedures taken when life safety needs greatly out-number available resources. For more information regarding registration please contact City of Maricopa Deputy Fire Marshal Eddie Rodriguez at [email protected].

Developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985 the Community Emergency Response Team program has been adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as well as the Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy. The depth of the material covered in the 6 week, one day a week course allows trained members to assist in all types of hazardous scenarios. Since being offered nationally by FEMA in 1993 the CERT program is conducted in almost 30 states and Puerto Rico. For more background information about the CERT program please visit the FEMA website at http://www.fema.gov/community-emergency-response-teams