Central Upper Peninsula Community Emergency Response Team

History of CERT

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the city of Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985. They recognized that citizens would very likely be on their own during the early stages of a disaster. It was decided that some basic training in disaster survival and rescue skills would improve the ability of citizens to survive until responders or other professional assistance could survive. After the Whittier-Narrows earthquake in 1987, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens in the CERT concept.

In 1994 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) felt that CERT should be made available to communities nationwide. With the help of the Emergency Management Institute, they expanded the CERT materials to make them applicable to all hazards.

In 2003 President Bush created the Citizens Corps program who, through Homeland Security, now oversees CERT teams and trainings in the United States to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of crime, public health issues, terrorism, and any natural disaster. CERT is the primiary program offered to the American Public to meet these challenges.

What Kind of Disasters Can Happen In Our Community?

The Central Upper Peninsula Red Cross and CERT

In 2003 the Central U.P. Chapter of the American Red Cross was awarded a grant to start our own CERT program. We received funding to train up to 200 participants in four counties - Alger, Delta, Houghton and Marquette. We have trained eighty-five volunteers and have more trainings scheduled!

Our CERT teams meet monthly to vote on activities and catch up, participate in further trainings, assist in community service projects and enjoy the close family-type atmosphere that develops.

Please enter here if you would like to learn more about CERT Training to protect yourself, your family and community from these disasters.

CERT Training Dates and Meeting Schedule