FEMA On-Line Course To Help Community Emergency Response Teams Get - And Stay - Trained

["Gerry Blackwood" <gpblackwood@justice.com>]

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=9646





FEMA On-Line Course To Help Community Emergency

Response Teams Get - And Stay - Trained



Release Date: December 17, 2003

Release Number: HQ-03-251



WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland

Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

is unveiling today an on-line, independent study

course that can serve as either an introduction to

those joining Community Emergency Response Teams

(CERTs) or as a refresher to current volunteer team

members. 



"While nothing can replace the in-person training

local jurisdictions offer to CERT volunteers, this

independent course augments their education and serves

to reinforce the knowledge they've gained," said

Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security

for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "This new

independent study course underscores the importance

that FEMA places on CERT and its importance to

communities across the nation." 



CERT members work with a community's emergency

management officials to provide assistance in a

disaster by helping victims, organizing spontaneous

volunteers at a disaster site and supporting emergency

responders. 



Specialists at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute

developed the course, which is part of the institute's

extensive independent study program. The course,

Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams, IS

317, has six modules with topics that include an

introduction to CERT, fire safety, hazardous material

and terrorist incidents, disaster medical operations,

and search and rescue. It takes between six and eight

hours to complete the course; those successfully

finishing it receive a certification of completion.

The course is located at:

www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is317.asp. 



The course can be taken by anyone interested in CERT,

but only those who are actual CERT volunteers can take

the in-person training FEMA offers. 



On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's continuing

mission within the new department is to lead the

effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and

effectively manage federal response and recovery

efforts following any national incident. FEMA also

initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains

first responders, and manages Citizen Corps, the

National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire

Administration. 



  

Last Updated: Wednesday, 17-Dec-2003 07:58:28 





 



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