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CERT Program Manager
218 N. Waco Street
Hillsboro, TX 76645
Phone: 254-479-6348
Email: CERT@co.hill.tx.us
Social: facebook.com/HillCountyCERT

About CERT

History: The City of Los Angeles, CA Fire Department founded CERT in 1985 as a way to help citizens help themselves in the event of a local crisis.  Almost 40 years later, CERT has grown to over 1,500 programs registered across the nation.

Training:  The CERT program provides basic emergency skills training to citizens of the community so that they are prepared when disaster strikes.   With CERT training, community members may also be called upon participate in organized response and
recovery efforts in the wake of a major disaster or emergency event.

 

What CERT Stands For:

Community - Emergency - Response - Team

 

Community:   A community is not simply defined as a group pf people living in the same geographical area.  A community is a group of people who support one
another and rely on each other for the greater good of all.   When a disaster strikes, a community must band together to help take care of one another. 

Emergency:  CERT involves a 20-24 hour certification course which provides 
community members the basic skills to respond to emergencies in their
neighborhoods, such as:

- Basic Emergency Medicine
- Disaster Preparedness
- Search and Rescue Operations
- Small Fire Suppression
- Terrorism Awareness

Through CERT, all  members of the community can work together to assist one another in the event of a disaster.

Response:   A CERT volunteers are a great line of defense in the event of a disaster.

CERT training provides volunteers with the knowledge and ability to  help
themselves,  their families, and their neighbors in the wake of a disaster—doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. 

Team:   CERT is open to everyone.   CERT training brings private citizens,
businesses, school staff and students, church organizations,  neighborhood watch groups and scouting programs, among others, together to help one
another in a crisis. 

After successful completion of CERT
certification, many community members may choose to  formally affiliate with the Hill County Emergency Management CERT, attend regularly scheduled meetings and receive additional, more comprehensive training, so that they can deploy as a team to support the county’s emergency management plan.

 

 Why We Need CERT:

  • The Central Texas region experiences severe weather - severe thunderstorms, flooding, unpredictable winter weather, and tornado outbreaks are all a threat.
  • Nearly all disaster declarations involve either flooding or wildfires.

  • House fires and other household and work related hazards necessitate response.
  • First responders benefit the ability to deploy a trained CERT capable of providing support services at the scenes of emergencies and disasters
Join CERT and take a proactive step to become prepared and protect your family, your home, and your community in the event of an
emergency or disaster.

 

STORM SPOTTER

Members of the Hill County CERT Team receive Storm Spotter certification through the National Weather Service’s SKYWARN Storm Spotter
program. 

SKYWARN Storm Spotters are specifically trained to identify all types of severe weather threats to help keep their local communities safe by providing reports of severe weather to the National Weather Service.

 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


What is the Purpose of the CERT Program?
The CERT Program was first piloted in 1986 when the City of Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD)
recognized that citizens very likely would have to respond on their own in the early stages of a disaster or
emergency. The purpose of a CERT Program is to train and organize community members:
  • To prepare individuals to help themselves and their families during an emergency or disaster.
  • To be a response asset in an emergency or disaster; and
  • To be an extension of first responder services until professional responders arrive.
What are the requirements to become part of Hill County CERT?
In order for an individual to become a member of Hill CERT, he or she must live or work in Hill County and
meet the following minimum criteria:
  1. Must be at least eighteen (18) years of age
  2. Possess a valid driver’s license
  3. Required to submit to initial (and subsequent) background investigations
  4. Must complete and sign all necessary forms, releases, and agreements
  5. Completion of the DHS/FEMA Required Basic CERT Training

What are the qualifications to be considered for the Hill CERT program?
Beyond the requirements listed above, you should be physically capable of lifting equipment up 30 lbs. in
weight and possess a moderate level of endurance. CERT Members come from all walks of life. Educators,
former military members, community organizers, utility workers, hospitality professionals, retired first
responders, spouses of first responders, medical professionals and business leaders all have brought value
and talent to CERT programs across the country. The biggest requirement is a dedication to volunteerism
and helping others.

What does the training consist of?
The CERT Basic Course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders and other qualified
volunteers. The initial 24-hour basic CERT Basic Course consists of the following topics:

- The CERT Organization
- Disaster Preparedness
- Disaster Medical Operations
- Disaster Psychology
- Fire Safety and Utility Controls
- Light Search and Rescue Operations
- Terrorism & Active Shooters
- Disaster Simulation
- Final Exam

 

Once the member successfully completes the basic course and moves on to membership in the response
team, additional ongoing training consists of:

- Advanced first aid techniques
- Advanced search and rescue
- Fire Scene Rehab.
- Community relations
- Severe Weather Spotting (Skywarn Certification)
- Damage assessment
- Debris removal
- Shelter management
- Concerns of individuals with disabilities and others with access and functional needs
- Utilities control
- Wildland firefighting assistance

 

When is the next training course?
The next basic training session will begin in Mid-January, exact dates to be announced. The 24-hour
training course will take place over a number of evenings over a multi-week period and conclude with a full Saturday session.

What is the cost?
There is no cost to join Hill CERT. There are certain items such as authorized shirts and other apparel that will be at the expense of the volunteer.

What is the time commitment?
The initial training course is 24 hours spread over a multi-week period. Each member who moves on to
participate in the response team is expected to attend the subsequent monthly meetings and subsequent
training, and to engage in at least 50% of the deployments dispatched by the Hill County Office of
Emergency Management.

Who can I contact for more information or to register for CERT?

Chris Clark
Program Coordinator - Hill County CERT
Hill County Office of Emergency Management
218 N. Waco Street, Hillsboro TX
Phone: 254-659-8215 Email: CERT@co.hill.tx.us