You Can Help During A Disaster By Joining Point Pleasant CERT

POINT PLEASANT, NJ — The Point Pleasant Borough Community Emergency Response Team is seeking volunteers who want to help their fellow residents in emergencies or disasters.

The CERT members work with the Point Pleasant Office of Emergency Management.

CERT members receive training in disaster preparedness, disaster medical operations, disaster psychology, fire safety and utility controls, light search and rescue operations, terrorism and CERT, emergency communications, and much more.

Training, uniforms and equipment are provided at no charge. After completing basic training, CERT members volunteer for 3 to 5 hours a month, which works with most residents' hectic schedules.

The basic CERT academy starts Oct. 5 and training is 20 hours of instruction over eight weeks. Classes are taught by emergency responders including firefighters, emergency medical, and law enforcement personnel.

In Point Pleasant, the CERT volunteers help with the following:

• Staffing the Emergency Operations Center and monitoring events.
• Setting up and staffing temporary shelters during hurricanes, blizzards, and other storms.
• Manage "spontaneous/convergent" volunteers.
• Assist with evacuations.
• Assist Point Boro EMS with firefighter REHAB and mass casualty response.
• Assist OEM and Point Pleasant Police with road closures for storms.
• Provide basic first aid and rescue when requested.
• Assist Red Cross and other relief organizations in mass care.
• Work as part of R.AC.E.S — Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.

To become a CERT Member, you must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid driver's license.

To volunteer, fill out the initial application here.

Questions can be emailed to awelsh@ptborooem.com.