Napa County CERT volunteer describes role in major incidents, encourages sign-ups

Caroline Massey, net control for radio communications with Napa County CERT, described how volunteer training and organization bolsters emergency response capacity and urged residents to join local teams.

Massey said CERT volunteers help when local resources are stretched, allowing firefighters and paramedics to focus on urgent tasks. She described CERT’s role during large incidents such as the LNU Lightning Complex fires, saying volunteers supported staging areas by "processing paperwork and keeping patrol units fueled" and helped manage road closures.

Massey recounted lessons from the 2014 earthquake and why community preparedness matters. She said the experience showed how unprepared residents could be and motivated local volunteers to gain skills: "We didn't know how to help ourselves or anyone else, and that experience really stuck with us," she said. She added that her CERT training has been useful outside deployments, including providing aid to a camper during a medical emergency until EMTs arrived.

On duties and responsibilities, Massey described her role as net control: "It's the equivalent to a dispatcher for first responders." She also said Napa County CERT is available to jurisdictions across Napa County through the Napa County Emergency Operations Center and that teams perform tasks ranging from administrative support at staging areas to enforcing hard closures in emergencies.

Massey closed with an appeal for volunteers: "If you wanna do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, then CERT is for you. Join our team of volunteers today. We have a variety of opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds. Visit our website to find the perfect role for you."