NEWPORT NEWS — The city’s Division of Emergency Management is now accepting applications for the upcoming Community Emergency Response Team course.
This class provides training that allows you to help yourselves, your family, neighbors, and colleagues during a disaster or emergency when professional first responders are either overwhelmed or cannot reach you immediately, according to a news release from the city.
CERT members are not intended to replace professional first responders, however, when seconds and minutes count the informed decisions and skilled actions taken by trained residents can reduce suffering and save lives.
Orientation for the class is on Sept. 11 at 6 p.m. at South Morrison Family Education Center, 746 Adams Drive.
Online Prerequisite Training begins upon the receipt of an application and must be completed no later than Sept. 11.
Field training drills begin on Sept. 13 and are conducted each Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Attendance is required Sept. 13 through Oct. 18.
Upon completion, applicants will participate in a full-scale exercise on Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. where the class is challenged to respond as a team to a mass casualty incident in a simulated post-disaster environment.
The training is free to residents, the deadline to enroll is Aug. 31.
The first 25 applications will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. To read more about the class or to download an application, visit the CERT website.
Applicants must fill out the application electronically and email it to [email protected].
Applications completed by hand will not be accepted.
