What is CERT?
16 June 2026
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a key component of Weber County's emergency preparedness program. CERT volunteers are trained to help communities respond during the critical first hours following a disaster.
The purpose of CERT training is to provide Weber County residents with the basic skills needed to handle many of their own needs and then assist their communities in the aftermath of a disaster. In addition, there are many administrative tasks involved in running a successful CERT program, and it takes dedicated volunteers like you to make it possible.
The purpose of the Weber County CERT program is to train and organize community members:
The idea of training community volunteers to assist themselves and support emergency services during disasters began in September 1985, when a group of officials from Los Angeles traveled to Japan to observe earthquake preparedness efforts. The Japanese had trained neighborhood groups in evacuation, fire suppression, and first aid, but not as a combined program encompassing all functions.
The same group subsequently visited Mexico City following a devastating earthquake. They observed that thousands of people volunteered to help; however, many lacked proper training, and some volunteers became victims themselves.
Based on these experiences, several important assumptions were made:
No community can maintain sufficient staffing within its emergency response agencies to effectively respond to every major disaster or large-scale emergency. Communities typically rely on assistance from neighboring jurisdictions through formal mutual aid agreements. However, neighboring communities may be unable to provide assistance due to emergencies within their own boundaries or because transportation routes, communication systems, or other critical infrastructure have been damaged.
During times like these, the CERT program can enhance a community's response capabilities and provide assistance to citizens in need. CERT volunteers may be requested by local emergency managers to support disaster response personnel when needed. In a major disaster, when local resources are overwhelmed,
CERT volunteers can provide initial assistance to the community until professional emergency response resources arrive.
If you would like to learn more about joining our local CERT team, contact us at ovcert\@gmail.com.
To learn more about volunteering and emergency preparedness, visit https://beready.utah.gov/get-involved/.
16 June 2026
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a key component of Weber County's emergency preparedness program. CERT volunteers are trained to help communities respond during the critical first hours following a disaster.
The purpose of CERT training is to provide Weber County residents with the basic skills needed to handle many of their own needs and then assist their communities in the aftermath of a disaster. In addition, there are many administrative tasks involved in running a successful CERT program, and it takes dedicated volunteers like you to make it possible.
The purpose of the Weber County CERT program is to train and organize community members:
- To improve individual and family preparedness.
- To serve as an unaffiliated citizen response asset during an emergency or disaster, initially assisting themselves, their neighbors, and their surrounding neighborhood.
- To serve as an extension of first responder services until professional responders arrive at a disaster scene, under the guidance of local emergency management.
- To provide supplemental support to first responders within the boundaries and guidelines established by our local CERT program.
The idea of training community volunteers to assist themselves and support emergency services during disasters began in September 1985, when a group of officials from Los Angeles traveled to Japan to observe earthquake preparedness efforts. The Japanese had trained neighborhood groups in evacuation, fire suppression, and first aid, but not as a combined program encompassing all functions.
The same group subsequently visited Mexico City following a devastating earthquake. They observed that thousands of people volunteered to help; however, many lacked proper training, and some volunteers became victims themselves.
Based on these experiences, several important assumptions were made:
- The potential for disaster exists everywhere.
- Disasters can overwhelm government response capabilities.
- People will spontaneously volunteer to help.
- Volunteers can be trained to assist safely without becoming victims themselves.
- Community response and recovery efforts can be improved through training and preparation.
No community can maintain sufficient staffing within its emergency response agencies to effectively respond to every major disaster or large-scale emergency. Communities typically rely on assistance from neighboring jurisdictions through formal mutual aid agreements. However, neighboring communities may be unable to provide assistance due to emergencies within their own boundaries or because transportation routes, communication systems, or other critical infrastructure have been damaged.
During times like these, the CERT program can enhance a community's response capabilities and provide assistance to citizens in need. CERT volunteers may be requested by local emergency managers to support disaster response personnel when needed. In a major disaster, when local resources are overwhelmed,
CERT volunteers can provide initial assistance to the community until professional emergency response resources arrive.
If you would like to learn more about joining our local CERT team, contact us at ovcert\@gmail.com.
To learn more about volunteering and emergency preparedness, visit https://beready.utah.gov/get-involved/.