What is CERT?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the 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. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
What are CERT Members Taught?
The CERT Basic Course was created to help the participant help themselves and their household before during and after a disaster or emergency.
The CERT Basic Course is a 20-hour course is taught classroom-style with hands-on activities. Participants perform tasks such as use a fire extinguisher, practice bandaging and splinting, and lifting large objects using cribbing techniques. The class ends with a disaster simulation that gives participant the chance to put their new skills into practice.
Participants are taught to be able to take care of themselves, their family, and neighbors in the event of a disaster…in that order. Therefore, if a person just wants to take the class so they can take care of themselves and their family, they will not be turned away.
What does CERT do in Kern County?
While this is valuable training, it does not qualify the participant to more than help their household or immediate neighbors. For most of the population, this is enough. For others, they want to serve others. These individuals complete additional training and join one of the teams in the county.
CERT volunteers under their sponsoring agency’s leadership have helped during emergencies and disasters such as flooding events and the Ridgecrest Earthquake.
CERT volunteers also support planned events like large races and parades. And they provide information at community events to help everybody prepare for a disaster.
How do I Become a CERT Member?
FEMA has “IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams,” an independent study course that serves as an introduction to the CERT Basic Course.
If you still are interested, locate a CERT volunteer team near you and inquire about the next available CERT Basic Course. Since the curriculum is standardized, you can attend a class in a neighboring area and still join your local team.
Where are the Kern County CERT Teams?
Bakersfield Area CERT
Lee Prewett, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-301-4076
Bob Belcher, Asst Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-477-608
Facebook - Bakersfield Metro
California City CERT
David Orr, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Indian Wells Valley CERT (Ridgecrest area)
Brenda Dawson, Communications Lead, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 760-384-8859
Ryan Marrone, Sgt. RPD, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (760) 499-5143
Greater Tehachapi Valley
David Shaw, Communications Lead, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. (661) 750-2263
Facebook - TehachapiCERT
TechachapiCERT.com
Kern River ValleyCERT
Tom Klein, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-333-0265
Dean Ott, Asst Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 760-793-1177, 760-376-1493
Facebook - cert Kern River Valley
Mountain Communities CERT (Frasier Park area)
David Reiner, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-289-5188 (h)
Kevin Woten, Asst Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-245-3341 (h)
Shelley Borgstrom, Recording Secty, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 661-245-3629
Pine Mountain Club CERT
Tom Yancey, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-242-1094
Michelle Wright, Assistant Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-242-0046, 650-400-2576
https://pinemtccacert.samariteam.com/Default.aspx
Rosamond CERT
Gary Darcy, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-752-7280
Gina Darcy, Asst Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-754-1804
Stallion Springs CERT
Dominque Dieken, Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-822-8833, 909-816-
David Burt, Assistant Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 661-808-7012, 661-823-1774
Don’t see your community?
Jeannie Taylor
Kern County CERT Coordinator
Kern County Fire Department
Cell: 661-301-7111
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
