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CERT Mission and Program Overview
 
Oakland County Citizen Corps/CERT Program
Mission and Program Overview
Oakland County Emergency Response and Preparedness is sponsoring a mechanism that promotes proactive involvement of private citizens, business groups, civic organizations and schools in homeland security and integrated emergency management.
We hope to challenge our residents to better prepare their neighborhoods and place of business for emergency or disaster situations. We also hope to identify citizen volunteers with credentials, special skills or subject matter expertise.
We are partnering with organizations, institutions and other resources to develop and deliver an established program with guidance and grant funding assistance from the US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Michigan Citizen Corps Council.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training involves an 8 module, 20 hour course of instruction and practical exercise. Our CERT trainers are local firefighters, sheriff's deputies, paramedics, and from organizations such as SATRA/Michigan Technical Rescue Operations Team and American Red Cross. A CERT training schedule is being developed and will be posted in the near future.
For more background and course curriculum information concerning Community Emergency Response Team training please refer to the following websites:
Program Concept
Our program will focus on groups or individuals for county-wide service, as well as support local cities, villages and townships that establish and manage their own teams or programs.
We intend for our citizens to be better prepared to survive and recover from all-hazards including severe weather, flooding, major power outage, fire, transportation or hazardous materials incidents, weapons of mass destruction such as a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive-incendiary incidents.
Trained and informed citizens will be better able to help themselves, their families, neighbors and co-workers in the event of a disaster that slows, hinders or overwhelms normal response capability. These citizens may also help prevent a terrorist attack or criminal act by watching for, and reporting to authorities, suspicious persons, vehicles or activity at sites such as drinking water system facilities and airports.
Existing activities or groups that will be targeted for our program include:
- Neighborhood Watch
- Airport Watch
- Citizen Police Academies
- Fire and Law Enforcement Explorers
- Faith-Based Organizations
- Community-Action Agencies
- RACES/ARRL (Amateur Radio Operators)
- Skywarn Spotters
- National Ski Patrol
- Civil Air Patrol
- Schools
- Large Businesses
- Special Needs Facilities
We are especially looking for the following professions or skills (including retirees):
- Physicians
- Nurses
- EMTs
- Pharmacists
- Veterinarians
- Structural Engineers
- Heavy Equipment Operators
- School Teachers and Administrators
- Business Floor Wardens or Area Leaders (assist employees/citizens evacuate a building, etc. in the event of an incident)
- Former Military Personnel
Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will be coordinated with Oakland County Health Division. Veterinarians and kennel operators/animal shelter resources will be referred to Oakland County Animal Control or the Michigan Department of Veterinary Medicine.
Additional Oakland County communities with active Citizen Corps/CERT programs are:
Can I participate in the Oakland County Citizen Corps or apply for CERT training?
Any citizen of Oakland County or an employee of a business operating in Oakland County may apply to be part of our program. Applicants may be asked to submit to a background check.
Please complete the Oakland County Citizen Corps/CERT Interested Party Form and fax to 248-858-5550 or send by mail to:
- Oakland County Emergency Response & Preparedness
1200 North Telegraph Road, Department 410
Pontiac, Michigan, USA 48341-0410
For further information on the Oakland County Citizen Corps/CERT program, contact Mike Loper at 248-858-5324 or loperm@oakgov.com.
The County of Oakland does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission of access to its programs, activities or services as required by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please contact us within five (5) business days prior to the event if you have any special needs.
Revised 3/9/06
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