The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs.

CERT became a national program in 1993. There are now CERT programs in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. Each is unique to its community and all are essential to building a Culture of Preparedness in the United States. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide and more than 600,000 people have trained since CERT became a national program.

The Clay County, West Virginia Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is part of the national Citizen Corps effort to incorporate and utilize volunteers in the community. Citizen Corps is endorsed by the President and the Department of Homeland Security. Clay County CERT trains volunteers in basic response techniques in order to assist local citizens and first responders in disaster or emergency situations.

Following its inception the leaders of Clay County CERT devised a structure that would expand on what the LAFD intended. As authorized by FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State of West Virginia, Clay County CERT developed divisions of the core organization to fill the gaps it reached and meet the needs of the community it served. Now as we have served our community for nearly half a decade, Clay County CERT has developed and established four divisions including the Education & Outreach Division, Service & Managment Division, and the Logistics & Operations Division which all have their own sub-entities allowing for the more efficient and effective execution of service.

Local government prepares for everyday emergencies. However, during a disaster, the number and scope of incidents can overwhelm conventional emergency services. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to:

• manage utilities and put out small fires,

• treat the three medical killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock,

• provide basic medical aid,

• search for and rescue victims safely,

• organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective,

• and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.