Nahant Emergency Management Division Establishes Community Emergency Response Team

NAHANT – Police Chief and Emergency Management Director Timothy Furlong is pleased to share that the Nahant Emergency Management Division has created a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

CERT is a volunteer-based emergency management program through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 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.

There are 2,700 local CERT programs across all 50 states, establishing a culture of preparedness in the U.S. Each program is tailored to the unique environment of the community it serves.

CERT trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. 

Volunteers in Nahant will focus primarily on learning about and preparing for emergency shelter operations. In case of a large-scale critical incident, the team may be called upon to conduct minor search and rescue operations, traffic control, triage, etc. 

Team members recently began the standardized eight-week, 20-hour certification course, led by Emergency Management Assistant Director Michael Halley. The training covers topics such as disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, and fire safety and utility control. Members of the CERT team must also complete an online FEMA training course. 

“Our first responders would face an overwhelming demand for services during a large-scale incident,” Chief Furlong said. “Having a trained support team of volunteers means we will be able to respond more effectively to the critical needs of the community.”

Chief Furlong urges anyone interested in joining the CERT team to call 781-771-2121.