Hello, Wayne Citizen, visitor or soon-to-be Wayne resident! Wayne extends a heartfelt welcome to you! 
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates citizens about disaster preparedness for hazards that could impact our area, and trains them in basic disaster response skills. These skills include fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using this training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhoods or workplaces following incidents when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in the community. 
CERT is one of five organizations that operate under the Citizens Corps, the nationwide grass roots movement that encourages all Americans to help make their communities – and the nation – safer, stronger, and better prepared for all types of hazards and threats through active volunteerism.
Why should I take CERT training?
Your community’s professional responders are well-trained and prepared to handle everyday emergencies. However, large-scale emergencies or disasters could easily overwhelm our response capabilities, resulting in 
possible delays. The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision-making, organizational, and practical skills to help them provide immediate assistance to family members, neighbors, and associates until the professional responders can arrive. While many people will respond to those in need without the proper training, the goal of the CERT program is to train and organize our volunteers thoroughly. With this knowledge, they can assist effectively and efficiently – without placing themselves in unnecessary danger.
How will the CERT program benefit The City of Wayne?
CERT-trained citizens have a better understanding of potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the vulnerability of these hazards. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capabilities, CERT members can apply their training to give critical support to their families, neighbors or associates in the immediate area until help arrives. When help does arrive, CERTs provide useful information to responders and support their efforts, as directed, at the disaster site.
For example, one CERT success story comes from events during the recent hurricanes that took place in Florida. Local CERT members, along with members who traveled in from all parts of the country to helped emergency management, fire department and police department personnel by assisting with evacuations, handling donations, preparing food for first responders, answering phones and a host of other tasks to assist the professional responders. This is a great example of CERT members and response personnel working together for the benefit of the community.
CERT members can also volunteer to assist with non-emergency projects that benefit the community. CERT members have distributed and/or installed smoke alarms, replaced smoke alarm batteries for the elderly, distributed disaster education material, and provided services at special events, such as festivals, parades, sporting events, and more.
What kind of training is required to be a CERT volunteer?
To become a City of Wayne CERT member, you need to complete the “core” CERT training program. All sessions will be held in the City of Wayne, and will be taught by professional emergency responders. During these sessions, you will learn basic emergency response techniques, including emergency medical/first aid, fire safety, search and rescue techniques, to floods, and more
Who can take CERT training?
Naturals for the training are participants of neighborhood watch programs, community organizations, communities of faith, school staff, workplace employees, scouting organization leaders and other group participants that come together regularly for a common purpose. Regardless of your background however, you are welcome to participate if you are a City of Wayne resident, or if you work in Wayne.
I would like to take the training, but I’m not ready to serve as a full-fledged member. Is this possible?
Absolutely! You are welcome to participate in the class for your own knowledge.
I have physical limitations. Can I still participate as a CERT volunteer?
Absolutely! There are many jobs within a CERT for citizens who want to be involved and help. Following a disaster, CERT members are needed for documentation, comforting others, logistics, etc. Non-disaster related team activities might include keeping databases, developing a Website, writing a newsletter, planning activities, helping with special events and organizing exercises and activities.
During CERT classroom training, if one has a concern about doing a skill like lifting, just let your instructor know. You can learn from watching. We would like everyone who goes through this training to be an active participant – whether it is “hands on” involvement, or learning the techniques by careful observation.
Are minors allowed to participate as CERT volunteers?
Right now, we do not have a student program in operation. Until a student program is in place, students (high school and above) are welcome to participate in the “senior” program. Minors between the age of 16 and 18 are welcome to participate if they are accompanied by a registered parent or guardian.
Are there costs involved?
There is no charge to register and attend the classes. As a matter of fact, we encourage all residents to attend these classes to help them better understand how they (and their families, co-workers, etc.) can better prepare for emergencies.
I’m interested. What do I do next?
Just open, save and complete the Application for Volunteer Participation form included in this PDF packet, then return it to the address listed on the form.
Who should I contact for more information on the CERT program?
| Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal, Shawn Bell | 734-722-1111 |
| Lieutenant, Bill Thomas | 734-722-1111 |
| Firefighter Dave Wylie | 734-722-1111 |
| Police Officer, Tom Warren | 734-721-1414 |