By-Line: Karen Callahan, Flagler County Communications and Engagement Manager
Learn basic disaster and emergency response skills for the things likely to impact Flagler County. This includes disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization—all taught through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) nationally certified training program, which begins on February 4. It’s free!
“The program is an invaluable partnership between the community and professional first responders,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “CERT provides a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization. Previous experience is not necessary – just a desire to learn and help others.”
Registration – which is required for this 30-hour course that meets 9:00 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the Emergency Operations Center through February 20 – can be accessed by going to www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency and then selecting “Volunteering & Training” from the menu. The course concludes on February 20 with an all-day disaster simulation and graduation.
Flagler County’s CERT program is made possible through a partnership between Emergency Management and the nonprofit Flagler Volunteer Services.
“It is a way to improve countywide preparedness by providing members of our community with additional knowledge and tools to get ready for and respond to emergencies and disasters,” Lord said. “When our residents are trained in these basic disaster skills, it allows neighbors to help each other while our first responders are focusing on the most critical needs in a disaster.”
The Winter 2025 CERT program will educate residents about topics such as: team organization; disaster medical skills; disaster psychology; fire safety and utility controls; light search and rescue; and terrorism.
Those who are interested in learning more about CERT should consider taking the free online FEMA IS-317 course. Registration is required, and attendance at all sessions is necessary to receive certification. Upon completion of the program, participants will receive a T-shirt and disaster kit.
For more information about this Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, go to www.flaglercounty.gov/emergency and select “Volunteering & Training” from the menu, or for those without Internet access, call 386-313-4200 for assistance.
