C.E.R.T. is an acronym that stands for “Community Emergency Response Teams.” The CERT volunteer program was created to help educate and prepare Citizens to respond to hazards, emergencies, and disasters that happen locally, and to provide emergency assistance to our neighbors, families, and community in the event of a disaster. The CERT program gives basic training in fire safety, light search and rescue, organizational skills, and first aid. This enables us to help government first responders provide emergency services should they require assistance, and to provide an organized local response when first response emergency services are overwhelmed. The CERT program has been used successfully many times throughout our nation for this purpose, and many in our community have received training as part of this effort.

In the aftermath of the windstorm that caused widespread damage to our community and others on December 1, 2011, it was realized by our local civic leaders and first responders that a higher level of citizen volunteer involvement was needed in response to widespread incidents and events, as well as providing organized volunteers to assist the community.

We have helped the City with the West Bountiful Safety Fair and Parade for the last few years, and recently helped the West Bountiful Elementary PTA with their “Fun Run” event helping with directions and traffic. We are currently working on outfitting a trailer we have acquired to serve as a command and control center, and also as a means to store and disburse emergency equipment and supplies.

For more information, contact Renate Allen or Jason Meservy at [email protected].