Opinions on CERT programs?

[RB in GA]

I ran across something today I had not heard of: CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) programs. Sounds like a great idea, except its a FEMA program.  Anyone had any experience with them?

[pkveazey]

It has been my experience that our magnificent Government throws out small tidbits of warning about things and instantly clams up and never mentions it again until next time they throw out another tidbit. Then when the SHTF they say, "Don't you remember that we warned you about this?" I call that CYA on their part, when they knew all along that the Shit was going to hit the fan. They'll say things like, "The economy is in slight bit of trouble." Slight bit of trouble? The Government debt is 36 Trillion Dollars. I don't call that a bit of trouble. I call that total unrecoverable bankruptcy. Our Government would tell you that a rattlesnake bite was just a mosquito bite. Then when you die from it, they'll say, "Hmmmm... He must have had an allergic reaction." From what I've heard about CERT, it is well intentioned BS that will be used to determine who has what and how much of it they have. Can you say confiscation?

[Defiant_Faith]

My ham radio club has several members that are certified in CERT, they have a large presence in the community, setting up a trailer with equipment at community events. I have the training manual, but was very hesitant to get involved. Distrust in the government and confiscation of equipment are the reasons why I chose not to get involved.

[JohnyMac]

I have taken IS-100 but not the others as yet. In essence ARES management needs to take all four and rank & file only need to take IS-100. It is available on line and once you complete a course and take a basic exam you own that for life.

o   IS-100, Introduction to the ICS
o   IS-200, ICS for Single Resources and Initial Incidents
o   IS-700, National Incident Management System (NIMS), an Introduction
o   IS-800, National Response Framework (NRF), an Introduction 

All n' all, they are good courses and at the lowest denominator, if you were to take the classes, you would know how your local and state government would act in a dramatic situation. 

[Searchboss]

I ran across something today I had not heard of: CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) programs. Sounds like a great idea, except its a FEMA program.  Anyone had any experience with them?

CERT can be a good thing for the local community if it is applied right. Sadly, in my experience it is hit or miss. Several years ago when they rolled out the CERT Program nationwide the federal government gave states a lot of money to recruit and train local CERT teams on a county level, at least here in Georgia. They were administered by the local county EMA Directors. I was in the first class in my county (Houston) and helped to train several more teams as more people volunteered. Unfortunately, our then-EMA director only gave lip service to using volunteers for anything in the county. Essentially, none of the volunteer CERT Teams were ever used except in one missing person search, which was mainly a PR event. They mainly use the CERT program to obtain additional federal funds for the county.

We had several meetings over the years trying to get the county to use the CERT teams in various events, with no results. We tried to get the county to share a radio frequency with the CERT teams so we could better coordinate with the county EMA with no results. Finally, after several years, the CERT program quietly fell apart here.

In other GA counties I am familiar with the EMA?s also trained local CERT teams. Some were used as intended, but many counties used the CERT program and funding as a recruiting tool to get more volunteer firefighters or add to the volunteer groups that they already had set up and worked with regularly.

Always remember that the CERT program is administered by the Federal Government! The bottom line is that CERT is federally funded, but is locally organized. It is up to the local agencies to use the CERT as they desire, within very loose guidelines. If you want to join a CERT, I would encourage you to do so. The training is very basic, but not bad. They may or may not issue equipment. Like any organization, if your local EMA/CERT leaders are honest, honorable, and professional you may end up with some good training and make new friends. Just be cautious and limit your expectations.

[Obh]

I'm a member of Broome County CERT. It's ok, but there's not nearly enough people for it to be useful. I think the county only has 20-30 members.

[Defiant_Faith]

After hearing your perspectives on CERT, knowing that you are preppers and distrustful of government also, I am going to give it a try. I check into a weekly local voice EmComm net, most of the guys are involved with the EOC. I'll start with the online courses mentioned in this thread. Thanks! Our call signs are public, if confiscation of equipment were to happen, we are already on the list.

[Nemo]

Do the class and meetings and such.  Do not make your politics well known if there is any indications its different among the group than around here.  Maintain cover.

The best that could happen is you get accepted as part of the group and that gives you an extra cover layer if its ever necessary.

Worst is you get discovered and put on top of the supply hoarder, forced compliance with the community supply contributors.

Nemo

[JohnyMac]

My trust of centralized .gov is minimal. With that written, I do trust local .gov in a disaster as I (we) know most of the players.

In all honesty, I am doing it to be part of the "inside knowledge". If you join/belong, it ain't slavery.  You can always walk away.