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Getting Involved: What You Need to KnowWelcome to North Coast CERT! We’re excited that you want to join the team. CERT volunteers provide vital community services during disasters and we’re always looking for more people to join our ranks. Here’s what you need to know to get started.
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Because CERT volunteers support so many areas of disaster response, there are lots of ways to be involved in the team. You can decide how you want to volunteer based on your interests, skill set, and schedule. Once you've completed basic training, you can select specific Capability Groups. Each Capability Group focuses on a specific area of disaster response.
Capability Group Descriptions
Bulk Distribution
The purpose of bulk distribution is to effectively and efficiently provide goods and supplies to large numbers of people. These goods and supplies can include bottled water, food, clean-up kits, and other commodities. Bulk distribution skills include coordination and logistics management as well as traffic control, crowd control, and safety.
Disaster Animal Care
The care and sheltering of pets during disasters is a growing concern. Traditional "people" shelters are not able to house animals because of health and sanitation concerns. CERT is helping address this issue by coordinating with emergency management to establish and manage pet shelters so impacted residents have a safe place to leave their pet during a disaster. Volunteers in this group would support these shelters and provide pet disaster preparedness in the community.
Information Support
Information support volunteers work in primarily administrative environments to support the coordination of a disaster response. Work assignments could include Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reception and administrative support, scribes and notetakers in the EOC and Incident Command Post, social media monitoring, public information support, and other similar tasks.
Mass Care
Mass care focuses on caring for the people impacted by a disaster, including residents, responders, and support personnel. Mass care volunteers will help coordinate and staff shelters, including those that provide overnight accommodations as well as respite stations that provide short term shelter, food, and information to residents. Mass feeding from mobile or fixed facilities is also included in mass care.
Safety
The safety group provides a variety of safety related services during disasters and at community events throughout the year. Tasks include first aid, traffic support and aid stations at events such as 5Ks and marathons as well as during disaster incidents.
Storm Team
Storm teams provide critical support to residents that have been directly impacted by high winds, flooding, and other impacts of severe storms. Emergency management must very quickly assess the damage caused by these events in order to determine the resources needed to respond. Storm Team volunteers are trained to quickly and accurately assess damage in assigned neighborhoods and provide this information to emergency management. When storms are severe, the debris created by they create can be overwhelming to residents; CERT volunteers provide critical support in organization and facilitating debris removal from public and private property in the days following severe weather.
*Storm Teams will be organized by county and jurisdiction to provide rapid response to all areas of the region.
Volunteer and Donations Management
In the aftermath of large-scale disasters, community members often come out in droves to help. They volunteer their time and donate goods to those impacted by the incident. CERT's role is to organize these resources so that they are used appropriately and efficiently. Volunteer Management focuses on identifying community volunteers, quickly assessing their skills and abilities, assignment them to an appropriate task, and tracking everyone as they support the incident. Donations Management includes cataloging and documenting donated goods and donors and coordinating with other response agencies to ensure the donated goods are distributed appropriately.
The purpose of bulk distribution is to effectively and efficiently provide goods and supplies to large numbers of people. These goods and supplies can include bottled water, food, clean-up kits, and other commodities. Bulk distribution skills include coordination and logistics management as well as traffic control, crowd control, and safety.
Disaster Animal Care
The care and sheltering of pets during disasters is a growing concern. Traditional "people" shelters are not able to house animals because of health and sanitation concerns. CERT is helping address this issue by coordinating with emergency management to establish and manage pet shelters so impacted residents have a safe place to leave their pet during a disaster. Volunteers in this group would support these shelters and provide pet disaster preparedness in the community.
Information Support
Information support volunteers work in primarily administrative environments to support the coordination of a disaster response. Work assignments could include Emergency Operations Center (EOC) reception and administrative support, scribes and notetakers in the EOC and Incident Command Post, social media monitoring, public information support, and other similar tasks.
Mass Care
Mass care focuses on caring for the people impacted by a disaster, including residents, responders, and support personnel. Mass care volunteers will help coordinate and staff shelters, including those that provide overnight accommodations as well as respite stations that provide short term shelter, food, and information to residents. Mass feeding from mobile or fixed facilities is also included in mass care.
Safety
The safety group provides a variety of safety related services during disasters and at community events throughout the year. Tasks include first aid, traffic support and aid stations at events such as 5Ks and marathons as well as during disaster incidents.
Storm Team
Storm teams provide critical support to residents that have been directly impacted by high winds, flooding, and other impacts of severe storms. Emergency management must very quickly assess the damage caused by these events in order to determine the resources needed to respond. Storm Team volunteers are trained to quickly and accurately assess damage in assigned neighborhoods and provide this information to emergency management. When storms are severe, the debris created by they create can be overwhelming to residents; CERT volunteers provide critical support in organization and facilitating debris removal from public and private property in the days following severe weather.
*Storm Teams will be organized by county and jurisdiction to provide rapid response to all areas of the region.
Volunteer and Donations Management
In the aftermath of large-scale disasters, community members often come out in droves to help. They volunteer their time and donate goods to those impacted by the incident. CERT's role is to organize these resources so that they are used appropriately and efficiently. Volunteer Management focuses on identifying community volunteers, quickly assessing their skills and abilities, assignment them to an appropriate task, and tracking everyone as they support the incident. Donations Management includes cataloging and documenting donated goods and donors and coordinating with other response agencies to ensure the donated goods are distributed appropriately.
If you're ready to volunteer, here's how to get started ...
Step 1
Submit a Volunteer Application
Complete a Volunteer Application, which is available HERE. The applications can downloaded, filled in, and submitted by email, regular mail, or in person at a team training event. Once we’ve received and reviewed your application, you’ll be added to the team email list so you receive notifications of training, community events, and activations. We’ll also issue an official team ID badge that you’ll need when participating in CERT activities.
Submit a Volunteer Application
Complete a Volunteer Application, which is available HERE. The applications can downloaded, filled in, and submitted by email, regular mail, or in person at a team training event. Once we’ve received and reviewed your application, you’ll be added to the team email list so you receive notifications of training, community events, and activations. We’ll also issue an official team ID badge that you’ll need when participating in CERT activities.
Step 2
Attend Volunteer Orientation and Safety Training
Combined, the orientation and safety training is a 2-hour session. The session gives new and experienced volunteers with important information on the role of CERT in disaster response, explains how North Coast CERT operates, and prepares volunteers to operate safely in a disaster environment. These sessions are scheduled as needed to onboard new volunteers.
Attend Volunteer Orientation and Safety Training
Combined, the orientation and safety training is a 2-hour session. The session gives new and experienced volunteers with important information on the role of CERT in disaster response, explains how North Coast CERT operates, and prepares volunteers to operate safely in a disaster environment. These sessions are scheduled as needed to onboard new volunteers.
Step 3
Complete Basic CERT training
Basic CERT Training provides volunteers with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to operate safely and effectively in a disaster environment. The initial training courses are free and most can be completed online so you’re able to fulfill this requirement when it’s convenient for you. In addition to the Volunteer Orientation, we ask volunteers to complete four basic courses:
IS-317: Introduction to CERT or Basic CERT (traditional course)
IS-5.a: Introduction to Hazardous Materials or Haz-Mat Awareness (traditional course)
IS-100: Intro to Incident Command
IS-700: National Incident Management System
While it's important to complete all of these trainings, this step does not have to be completed immediately. Many new volunteers tackle these courses over their first year on the team. Others prefer to complete them quickly. Complete the courses at a pace that fits your schedule. You can still participate in deployments and team activities as long as you've completed the application and received an ID badge.
If you’re unable to complete online training, contact us and we’ll work with you to identify an alternate option.
Complete Basic CERT training
Basic CERT Training provides volunteers with the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to operate safely and effectively in a disaster environment. The initial training courses are free and most can be completed online so you’re able to fulfill this requirement when it’s convenient for you. In addition to the Volunteer Orientation, we ask volunteers to complete four basic courses:
IS-317: Introduction to CERT or Basic CERT (traditional course)
IS-5.a: Introduction to Hazardous Materials or Haz-Mat Awareness (traditional course)
IS-100: Intro to Incident Command
IS-700: National Incident Management System
While it's important to complete all of these trainings, this step does not have to be completed immediately. Many new volunteers tackle these courses over their first year on the team. Others prefer to complete them quickly. Complete the courses at a pace that fits your schedule. You can still participate in deployments and team activities as long as you've completed the application and received an ID badge.
If you’re unable to complete online training, contact us and we’ll work with you to identify an alternate option.
Step 4
Choose a Capability Group
After completing basic training, it's time to select one or more Capability Groups. Our volunteer are organized into these groups to facilitate activation during disasters and to ensure that volunteers have the opportunity to identify what areas of disaster response they prefer to support. Not everyone wants to help in all areas, and that's OK! Capability Groups are how you indicate to us what your interests are. You can choose as many or as few groups as you'd like. And don't worry, you can change your mind. If you decide something isn't for you, you can always move to a different group. There's a spot for everyone!
The best way to learn more about what CERT does and get to know your fellow volunteers is to attend a team training. Because training is a critical element of what we do, we provide frequent training opportunities across the three county region. While the schedule varies from month to month, you can always check the calendar on the Training page or Facebook for current meeting dates, times, and locations. You’re welcome to participate in any training that fits your schedule. While we offer training at least once per month, volunteers are not expected or required to attend every event. We ask that volunteers attend when they are able and at least once per year.
Choose a Capability Group
After completing basic training, it's time to select one or more Capability Groups. Our volunteer are organized into these groups to facilitate activation during disasters and to ensure that volunteers have the opportunity to identify what areas of disaster response they prefer to support. Not everyone wants to help in all areas, and that's OK! Capability Groups are how you indicate to us what your interests are. You can choose as many or as few groups as you'd like. And don't worry, you can change your mind. If you decide something isn't for you, you can always move to a different group. There's a spot for everyone!
The best way to learn more about what CERT does and get to know your fellow volunteers is to attend a team training. Because training is a critical element of what we do, we provide frequent training opportunities across the three county region. While the schedule varies from month to month, you can always check the calendar on the Training page or Facebook for current meeting dates, times, and locations. You’re welcome to participate in any training that fits your schedule. While we offer training at least once per month, volunteers are not expected or required to attend every event. We ask that volunteers attend when they are able and at least once per year.
That's it, you're ready to go! The process might seem complicated but we will work with you as you progress through each step. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. We are here to help!
