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Committee considers CERT (community emergency response) training but delays for timing and interest
Summary
Members reviewed a FEMA CERT course proposal that provides basic disaster‑response skills, but decided to defer active recruitment because interest has been limited in past outreach and hurricane season timing is not ideal.
The committee reviewed a proposal to pursue FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training for committee members and interested residents. The CERT program offers a 20‑hour curriculum delivered over several days that covers disaster preparedness, basic life support and shelter operations; recipients receive a certificate and can volunteer during local emergencies.
Members recalled prior outreach that produced little follow‑through and noted the current hurricane season makes immediate training difficult. Captain Darnell Olesencio said CERT can be a useful asset for shelter staffing and non‑emergent support, but recommended revisiting the idea outside of hurricane season. The group asked staff to consider CERT as part of a broader, pre‑season preparedness seminar that would include hurricane‑preparedness resources and insurance‑claim information.
