Volunteer Training
All North Coast CERT volunteers complete basic disaster preparedness and response training. This essential information prepares volunteers to operate safely and effectively in a disaster environment and provides them with an understanding of the disaster response structure. Basic volunteer training includes these elements:
While it's important to complete all of these items, they do 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 your volunteer application has been approved by the EMA Director.
Here's more information on each requirement:
North Coast CERT Volunteer Orientation/Basic CERT
*Revised for Fall 2019*
This 6-hour session introduces volunteers to the policies, procedures, and expectations of North Coast CERT volunteers, addresses safety issues in the disaster environment, and covers several key volunteer roles. This session helps volunteers understand their role in disaster response and how the team operates.
Hazardous Materials Awareness*
Haz-mat awareness is required for all first responders and volunteers who operate on a disaster or emergency scene. This training provides basic recognition and safety information on the many hazardous chemicals that a responder can be exposed to, including modes of transportation. This 2-hour session is provided several times per year. Volunteers can complete this training online via IS-5.a, Introduction to Hazardous Materials or through traditional classroom training when it is offered.
Basic CERT Course
*This course will be phased out once the revised Volunteer Orientation/Basic CERT course is in place*
The Basic CERT course provides volunteers with basic knowledge of disasters and disaster response operations. Course topics include personal and family disaster preparedness, fire and utility safety, medical operations, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization, and disaster psychology. This training is available online via IS 317, Introduction to CERT. The traditional classroom-based course is 20 hours in length and is offered only on an as-needed basis.
Incident Command System*
All responders functioning in a disaster must have a basic understanding of the system for organizing and coordinating the disaster response. This basic understanding is provided through two online courses, Introduction to Incident Command and National Incident Management System. These courses are free for all response personnel, including volunteers.
IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command
IS-700.a, National Incident Management System
*SID Number
Anyone participating in an online course provided by the Emergency Management Institute must have a Student Identification Number (SID); by applying for and utilizing an SID, students are not asked to use their social security number when participating in this training. Applying for an SID is quick and easy. Click HERE and click 'Register for a FEMA SID'.
Supplemental Training
Supplemental trainings are throughout the year. These offerings are determined based on feedback from volunteers so let us know what you're interested in learning about. Past topics have included animal response, first aid and CPR, damage assessment, hazmat awareness, and shelter operations. Volunteers also have multiple opportunities to participate in tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises across the three-county region. These opportunities are often in conjunction with EMA, public health, hospital, and public safety exercises so opportunities vary annually.
Ongoing Training
Team training is conducted monthly to provide volunteers with updates on training schedules, recruitment efforts, community activities and other critical information as well as a short 60-90 minute training topic. Meetings are conducted in each county, providing 30 opportunities per year for volunteers to participate in training and stay up-to-date on team procedures and activities. Volunteers are welcome to attend any meeting in any county. Check the training calendar below for current meeting dates and locations.
- North Coast CERT Volunteer Orientation/Basic Training (We've revised this course for 2019 so it's a brief 6-hour introduction to CERT operations. Stay tuned for more details in the fall!)
- Hazardous Materials Awareness
- Introduction to Incident Command
- National Incident Management Systems
While it's important to complete all of these items, they do 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 your volunteer application has been approved by the EMA Director.
Here's more information on each requirement:
North Coast CERT Volunteer Orientation/Basic CERT
*Revised for Fall 2019*
This 6-hour session introduces volunteers to the policies, procedures, and expectations of North Coast CERT volunteers, addresses safety issues in the disaster environment, and covers several key volunteer roles. This session helps volunteers understand their role in disaster response and how the team operates.
Hazardous Materials Awareness*
Haz-mat awareness is required for all first responders and volunteers who operate on a disaster or emergency scene. This training provides basic recognition and safety information on the many hazardous chemicals that a responder can be exposed to, including modes of transportation. This 2-hour session is provided several times per year. Volunteers can complete this training online via IS-5.a, Introduction to Hazardous Materials or through traditional classroom training when it is offered.
Basic CERT Course
*This course will be phased out once the revised Volunteer Orientation/Basic CERT course is in place*
The Basic CERT course provides volunteers with basic knowledge of disasters and disaster response operations. Course topics include personal and family disaster preparedness, fire and utility safety, medical operations, light search and rescue operations, CERT organization, and disaster psychology. This training is available online via IS 317, Introduction to CERT. The traditional classroom-based course is 20 hours in length and is offered only on an as-needed basis.
Incident Command System*
All responders functioning in a disaster must have a basic understanding of the system for organizing and coordinating the disaster response. This basic understanding is provided through two online courses, Introduction to Incident Command and National Incident Management System. These courses are free for all response personnel, including volunteers.
IS-100.b, Introduction to Incident Command
IS-700.a, National Incident Management System
*SID Number
Anyone participating in an online course provided by the Emergency Management Institute must have a Student Identification Number (SID); by applying for and utilizing an SID, students are not asked to use their social security number when participating in this training. Applying for an SID is quick and easy. Click HERE and click 'Register for a FEMA SID'.
Supplemental Training
Supplemental trainings are throughout the year. These offerings are determined based on feedback from volunteers so let us know what you're interested in learning about. Past topics have included animal response, first aid and CPR, damage assessment, hazmat awareness, and shelter operations. Volunteers also have multiple opportunities to participate in tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises across the three-county region. These opportunities are often in conjunction with EMA, public health, hospital, and public safety exercises so opportunities vary annually.
Ongoing Training
Team training is conducted monthly to provide volunteers with updates on training schedules, recruitment efforts, community activities and other critical information as well as a short 60-90 minute training topic. Meetings are conducted in each county, providing 30 opportunities per year for volunteers to participate in training and stay up-to-date on team procedures and activities. Volunteers are welcome to attend any meeting in any county. Check the training calendar below for current meeting dates and locations.
