What is CERT?

If a disaster happens in your neighborhood, are you prepared to care for your family, friends, and neighbors?

The Plainfield Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps give residents the basic skills to be able respond to emergency situations which directly impact themselves, family, friends and neighbors. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The Plainfield Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) teaches the CERT course in the community. They are a trained team of first responders who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). CERT training includes disaster preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic disaster medical operations, and light search and rescue operations.

Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and the recurring reminders of the powerful force of natural phenomenon, we become reminded of our vulnerabilities, more appreciative of our freedoms, and more understanding that we have a personal responsibility for the safety of our families, our neighbors and our nation. When you help your neighbor, you help your nation.

Click the links on the left for more information.

Current Plainfield CERT members