Each year, many communities in Texas are subjected to severe weather, such as tornadoes, floods or flash floods, winter storms, or by "man-made" disasters. The damage caused by such disasters affects everyone. Disasters can severely restrict and overwhelm emergency response resources, communications, transportation, and utilities as well as leave individuals and neighborhoods cut off from outside emergency support.
Training
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) are trained to take care of themselves and then help others in their community for the first several days following a disaster. This is when debris-clogged or damaged roads, disrupted communications, or a high volume of calls may prevent access by emergency response personnel.
The purpose of CERT training is to provide citizens with the basic skills required to handle virtually all their own needs and then to be able to respond to their community's needs in the aftermath of a disaster.