Cal State San Bernardino celebrated the graduation of 25 staff members from the university’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program on April 12 at the Obershaw Dining Room. The 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, said April Wing, manager of the CSUSB Office of Emergency Management and Business Continuity. “This is a class of 25, bringing our total trained to 45. Of those in the program, about two-thirds are building or floor marshals. All 10 of the area marshals (responsible for each evacuation area on campus) have been trained,” Wing said. “The remainder of trained personnel are involved in the campus emergency ‘After 5’ plan, which aims to prepare us during an incident after traditional work hours.” CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks, said Wing. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced. The CERT program was designed as a grassroots initiative and specifically structured so that the local and state program managers have the flexibility to form their programs in the way that best suits their communities. CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly, and effectively to emergency situations, but they can also support their communities during non-emergency events as well. All CERT graduates are adequately trained and prepared for the different types of disasters that their community may face. Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT members: 

  • Learn how to safely respond to manmade and natural hazards;
  • Help organize basic disaster response; and
  • Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events.

 The event was sponsored and supported by CSUSB’s University Police Department and Emergency Management.