Wake County CERT Homepage

Become a member of Wake County’s Community Emergency Response Team and make a difference in the event of a disaster. The Community Emergency Response Team Program (CERT) is an entirely civilian and volunteer force which provides Wake County residents and businesses with skills to become self-reliant and to assist others during disasters. Trained by professional firefighters, EMS personnel, and other emergency responders, CERT educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as:

• Disaster Awareness and Preparedness
• Response Team Management
• Disaster Psychology 
• Fire Suppression and Utilities Control 
• Hazardous Materials Awareness
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Light Search and Rescue
• Terrorism Awareness
• Small Unit Leadership

The training is standardized across the nation by the Department of Homeland Security. Using this training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist their families and others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster event. CERT members assume that professional emergency responders (police, fire, paramedics) will be overtaxed and unable to respond during disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, etc. CERT members self-activate following a disaster. They first check on their own families or co-workers, securing their homes and workplaces, then they go out into their neighborhoods to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

In the event of a disaster, emergency services, including fire, EMS and police, are already committed. Although our emergency workers are capable, it's impossible to for them to immediately help everyone. They can't be everywhere at any given time. People have to learn to help themselves. CERT trains individuals in how to preserve their neighborhood, homes and neighbors' homes in the event a disaster does happen.

People who go through CERT training have a better understanding of the potential threats to their home, workplace and community and can take the right steps to lessen the effects of these hazards on themselves, their homes or workplace. If a disaster happens that overwhelms local response capability, CERT members can apply the training learned in the classroom and during exercises to give critical support to their family, loved ones, neighbors or associates in their 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. CERT members can also assist with non-emergency projects that improve the safety of the community. CERTs have been used to distribute and/or install smoke alarms, replace smoke alarm batteries in the home of elderly, distribute disaster education material, provide services at special events, such as parades, sporting events, concerts and more.

Wake County CERT, Inc. Mission Statement

Wake County CERT Inc. identifies training needs, equipment requirements, and volunteer opportunities for CERT teams in Wake County operating under its umbrella.  Our primary role is to organize, encourage and train citizens to become CERT volunteers.   We interact with local government, emergency management, media and the general public to prepare for both natural and man made disasters.

Wake County CERT Volunteer, Mission Statement

The mission is simple: "To do the greatest good, for the greatest number of people, while preventing yourself from becoming a victim" when a major disaster strikes.