FAIRFIELD, Conn. - The Fairfield Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is offering free disaster response preparedness training beginning Saturday, March 2nd, 2024. The dates are: March 2, 9, 16, 23 and April 6, 2024 - 8am to 2pm.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) implemented the CERT Training Program in 1994 for communities nationwide. CERT is a nationally supported, locally implemented initiative that teaches people how to better prepare for hazards that may affect their communities. CERT training prepares participants in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical operations, fire safety, and light search and rescue. Fairfield CERT programs train and organize teams of volunteers to assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members during emergencies when professional responders may not be immediately available to assist. You will learn how to prepare and care for yourself, your family, your neighbors, and your community during a major emergency or disaster. Upon completion of the CERT Basic Training course, participants are eligible and invited to join the Fairfield CERT Team. Once a member of the Fairfield CERT Team you will have the opportunity to attend additional and advanced Emergency Preparedness Training specific to our local community needs.
2024 Fairfield CERT Basic Training begins March 2, 2024, from 8am to 2pm and runs for five Saturdays ending April 6, 2024. Classes are held at the Fairfield Regional Fire School, 205 Richard White Way, Fairfield. Attendance at all classes is required. The training is free and open to those 18 and older. Register online at https://fairfieldrecreation.com/programs/adults/cert_.php. For more information, contact Norma Peterson, Fairfield CERT Liaison, at citizencorps@optonline.net
The Fairfield CERT mission is to assist first responders during emergencies and disasters under the direction of the Fairfield Fire Chief who is also the Town Emergency Manager. “We know disasters can happen at any time, and take different forms – hurricanes, blizzards, flooding, shootings, chemical spills – and that the key to a rapid response is having trained personnel available to help. Our trained CERT volunteers play a vital role and multiply our manpower capabilities during a crisis” said Deputy Fire Chief, Deputy Fairfield Emergency Manager and Fairfield CERT CoordinatorKyran Dunn. During the pandemic, CERT assisted in the Town-wide distribution of COVID-19 home test kits to more than 2,500 residents. The team also supported the Town vaccination clinics, assisted the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities with the delivery of meals to homebound seniors, and distributed thousands of pounds of food through Operation Hope’s outdoor food pantry program. Outside of emergencies, the Fairfield CERT Team is called upon to support traffic management and pedestrian safety during major events such as the Fairfield Half-Marathon, Beach Bunny 5K, FPD Sunset 5K, Memorial Day Parade, and Fairfield's 4th of July fireworks display.
Additional Information:
During Superstorm Sandy, Fairfield CERT played a major role in managing and operating the municipal shelter at Ludlow High School. Shelter operations for people and pets continue to be a major part of the mission and training for the team. More recently, the CERT Team assisted in the town-wide distribution of COVID-19 home test kits to more than 2,500 residents. Additional COVID-related support included partnering with Operation Hope on the packaging and distribution of thousands of pounds of food as part of the Operation Hope food pantry program. And, in conjunction with the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, the team supported home deliveries of meals to homebound seniors.
Other functional support provided by Fairfield CERT includes traffic and pedestrian control for events in town, including the Fairfield Half Marathon and the Fourth of July celebration as well as providing mutual aid to other towns as needed. These deployments assist in keeping the team members trained should they be needed to provide those support services during a major disaster while the professional responders are occupied in other critical areas.
CERT is a federal initiative to promote citizen emergency preparedness. Citizen Corps groups were established throughout the country and CERT is one of the partner programs of this Citizen Corps initiative. The Fairfield CERT Team has over 100 trained volunteers and is one of over 2,700 teams nationwide.