The Capital Area Citizens Corps is providing a free 20-hour emergency preparedness course to community members as part of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. CERT trains people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities.

When emergencies happen, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when a professional responder is not immediately available to help. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The CERT course is taught in the community by instructors who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management or FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute.

CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Upon completion of the 20-hour course, you will received a free preparedness backpack.

The training will be held at the Loudon Fire Department at 8 Cooper Street in Loudon. Training dates are Friday, November 4, from 6 to 9 PM; Saturday, November 5 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; and Sunday, November 6, from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

For more information or to register, please contact Stacey at 224-2595 extension 22 or Stacey@nullCapitalAreaPHN.org.