Hernando County Emergency Management is seeking volunteers over the age of 18 who are interested in joining the Hernando County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

CERT volunteers receive special training to enhance their ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster situation. As an organized team, they provide vital services in the absence of emergency responders, whose arrival may be delayed due to the severity of the event. Students must commit to attending all sections of the course to complete the training program.

The next training class will run three consecutive Saturdays:

• March 31, 2018 – Disaster Preparedness, Team Organization and Disaster Fire Suppression
• April 7, 2018 – Disaster Medical 1 and 2
• April 14, 2018 – Light Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism and CERT and the Disaster Drill

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a break for lunch from noon to 1 p.m. The classes will be held at the Emergency Operations Center located at 18900 Cortez Boulevard in Brooksville.

Previous emergency experience in not required. Training materials are provided free of charge. CERT members will be required to complete all modules and pass a level two background check (including fingerprints) before being issued equipment and CERT identification.

Applications can be found at www.hernandocounty.us/em/documents/forms/47-hernando-county-volunteer-application-1/file and must be received by the close of business on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. Please email completed applications to [email protected] or mail them to the Emergency Operations Center, 18900 Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, Florida 34601.