The Gerrish Township CERT team was established in 2004 and currently consists of 19 trained community volunteers. CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a training program that prepares you to help yourself, your family and your neighbors during a disaster or incident. Often emergency services are overwhelmed in a massive incident and cannot reach everyone in need right away. By getting trained in CERT you have the skills needed to help emergency first responders save and sustain lives and protect property. CERT teams are known and trusted resources to emergency responders and their communities. They also help year-round by assisting with community emergency plans, neighborhood exercises, community event safety, preparedness outreach, fire safety education, and workplace safety. Under the direct supervision of the Gerrish Twp. Police and Fire Chiefs, the Gerrish CERT team helps provide critical support by giving immediate assistance to victims, providing damage assessment information, organizing volunteers at disaster sites, providing shelter support, crowd control, traffic safety, and evacuations. The role of a CERT volunteer is to help until trained emergency personnel arrive. CERT members are also trained in first aid, triage, search and rescue, fire safety, disaster preparedness, radio communications, and the Incident Command System. CERT team may also be activated by the County Emergency Management Director and even requested by regional and state agencies if needed.
For more information on the Gerrish Township CERT team or if you are interested in becoming a member please contact Gerrish Township CERT Coordinator Robert Barber at 989-745-3811 or email rwbarber624@outlook.com.
CERT volunteers receive an initial 20 hours of training to become certified. Gerrish Township CERT team holds annual meetings, exercises, and mandatory training under the direct supervision of the Gerrish Township Police Department.
Gerrish Township CERT Coordinator
ROBERT BARBER
