Every community has emergency response experts, most of whom are first responders, but in large-scale disasters, community members are often needed to help save lives. Everyday citizens across the country are being trained to respond to emergencies and help one another. In Utah, these trainings are run through the Community Emergency Response Team.

CERT educates volunteers about disaster preparedness by educating people about fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.

According to Kelly Johnson, Lindon’s Emergency Management Coordinator, the city is in the early stages of organizing a new certified CERT program. “We are quite excited to be offering a new CERT program in Lindon,” she said.

Lindon is planning to host two CERT trainings each year, open to 20 to 30 people per course. There will also be one extra learning course annually on a variety of topics including animal response and traffic control. The first of the two courses, planned for early summer, is already full, but another will be offered in the fall. More information will be updated soon on the Lindon City website.

“Pleasant Grove’s Emergency Management is offering CERT training that will cover before, during and after major disasters and emergencies through preparation, planning, mitigation, response and recovery,” reads a post on the Pleasant Grove Community Connection Facebook page. “If you are a business owner, serve in an emergency management position in your neighborhood, work in a school or just want to know more about how to best serve your community in the time of an emergency, this is for you.”

Pleasant Grove Emergency Manager Lynsey Eddington said that a new CERT course will begin on April 28. This will be the first program held by the city in years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The course will be available online and in person.

The classes are taught by CERT-trained volunteers, police officers and firefighters. Topics will include disaster preparedness, CERT organization, disaster medical operations, search and rescue, disaster psychology and fire safety.

“It’s a great way to get involved with your community and to learn new skill sets. The program allows the volunteers more complex tasks during certain types of disasters and incidents,” Eddington said. More information about Pleasant Grove’s new CERT training can be found on the city’s website.

The CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985, according to the program’s website. “The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs,” reads the history.

There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide, with over 600,000 people having been trained. There are CERT programs in all 50 states, including many communities in Utah. In Utah County, programs will be held in Orem, Provo, Lehi, Saratoga Springs, Springville, Eagle Mountain, Spanish Fork, Mapleton, Payson and more.