Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

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.

Here in Fort Worth, the CERT program falls under the Police Department, reporting to the Special Events / Emergency Response Unit (SEER).  With CERT teams usually under Fire Departments or an Office of Emergency Management, the Fort Worth Police Department’s CERT gets to participate in a more active role at events inside the City of Fort Worth. Fort Worth CERT assists FWPD's Homeland Security Unit as well as the Special Events & Emergency Response Unit.  Any other unit may call upon CERT to assist them within the parameters of our Standard Operating Procedures.