The City of Trinidad agreed unanimously to sponsor a volunteer-based Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to serve the Greater Trinidad Area in its Aug 22, 2023 City Council meeting.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may occur where they live.
CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as:
- Fire safety
- Light search and rescue
- Team organization
- Disaster medical operations
The CERT program offers a consistent, FEMA-led, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
Examples of local CERT team accomplishments include support for evacuation centers and shelters, water/food/supply distribution, county-wide Tsunami warning and evacuation drills, public emergency preparedness sessions, and traffic management at local events.
“The CERT program has a proven track record of supporting communities in times of emergency and I’m excited that the City of Trinidad will sponsor a local team. I had the privilege of attending CERT training last Spring, and the 20+ hours was both hands-on and comprehensive,” says Mayor Kelly. “In addition to funding volunteer training the City will receive an emergency supply trailer from McKinleyville CERT and the City had agreed to pay for storage.”
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, training will be held Nov 3-5, 2023 at the Trinidad Town Hall.
You can find more information on the City’s website at https://trinidad.ca.gov/cert