West Hartford Seeks Volunteers To Help Community Should Disaster Strike

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The West Hartford Community Emergency Response Team is seeking new volunteers for its next Basic Training class beginning April 1, town officials announced recently.

The free course will run on eight consecutive Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., followed by a practice exercise and drill scheduled for 8 a.m. Sunday, May 31. Enrollment is limited to the first 25 applicants.

The program is open to anyone age 18 or older who lives, works, or attends school in West Hartford.

The training includes a 20-hour standardized Community Emergency Response Team course covering disaster preparedness, emergency first aid, disaster psychology, fire safety, animal sheltering, and terrorism awareness.

Participants will also complete an additional online course from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Volunteers who complete the training receive a CERT backpack with emergency equipment and a certificate from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

The West Hartford CERT program has trained more than 354 residents to date. Members assist the town during emergencies and provide support while professional responders are mobilizing.

According to the town, CERT volunteers logged more than 2,500 hours in 2025, helping with food distribution, parades, special events, drills, and training activities.

The CERT program operates within the town’s Office of Emergency Management, led by West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest.

Officials said participation after training is flexible, with volunteers contributing based on their availability and interests.

Applications are now open. Residents can learn more on the town’s CERT webpage or contact the program at CERT@westhartfordct.gov or 860-561-8310.