North Raleigh Today

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, sponsored by the Raleigh Fire Department (RFD), is actively seeking volunteers to educate community members about disaster preparedness and train them in basic disaster response skills. Satwana Hurdle, assistant director of emergency management with RFD, emphasized the importance of CERT members, stating that they are dedicated to creating a safe, prepared, and resilient community.

The program is offering a free training opportunity for interested individuals. The full Basic CERT training course is scheduled to take place from March 15 to March 17 at RFD's Keeter Training Center in Raleigh. Those interested in participating in the training can find more information on the team's page and register for the course through NC TERMS.

Hurdle highlighted the benefits of completing the Basic CERT training course, noting that volunteers who undergo this training will be better prepared to respond to emergencies both in their homes and communities. Hurdle also clarified that while participation in the training is encouraged for personal and community safety, individuals are not obliged to join the CERT team.

For those unable to attend the upcoming training in March, another free Basic CERT training course is scheduled for September. This presents an additional opportunity for individuals to enhance their emergency response skills and contribute to the safety and resilience of their community.