Lake Ashton CERT

What is CERT?

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a national program which educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster skills. Team members are taught skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue and disaster medical operations. Utilizing skills learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

County resources will be stretched helping more vulnerable areas, non-hurricane code housing and areas prone to flooding. The distance between your home and the Fire Station, when you call or who you are has no bearing on where emergency personnel are dispatched.

As a nationwide program, CERT attracts members with a common desire to help out their neighbors in an emergency. Although there are Lake Ashton team members who possess experience, a background is not necessary to learn how to help the community. With diverse backgrounds, interests, and skills volunteers are trained to respond and assist the community as a team. Polk County Fire and Rescue personnel assist volunteers as they develop skills/understanding in Search and Rescue, First Aid, CPR/AED, disaster management and government Emergency Opera­tions Plan and disaster response policies.

To answer common questions, if activated we do fall under the county insurance umbrella and you will not be asked to perform an actively you are not comfortable in carrying out.