Department Of Emergency Management

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people 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. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

The Department of Emergency Management sponsors the Community Emergency Response Team Program. The "CERT" program trains groups of people to be self-sufficient for the fist 72 hours after a disaster After September 11, 2001, America witnessed a wellspring of selflessness and heroism. People in every corner of the country asked, "What can I do?" and "How can I help?" Citizen Corps was created to help all Americans answer these questions through public education and outreach, training, and volunteer service. The Community Emergency Response Team is one of the programs that the Citizen Corps supports. The Oahu CERT Program got an early start back in 1995, but it was not until 2003 when Federal assistance became available to promote this program.