Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency is inviting local residents to learn skills that could help their families, neighbors and community when disaster strikes by becoming members of the county’s Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT.

CERT is a FEMA-supported program designed to educate and train everyday citizens in basic disaster preparedness and emergency response. The goal is not to replace professional first responders, but to provide trained volunteers who can offer valuable assistance when emergencies stretch public safety resources.

Chattooga County CERT members receive training in disaster preparedness and emergency readiness, fire safety and suppression, light search and rescue, basic medical response and triage, disaster psychology, teamwork and emergency response operations.

Once trained, CERT volunteers can assist public safety responders and provide support to neighborhoods, community events and other activities throughout Chattooga County. During a major emergency or disaster, volunteers can also help their communities prepare, respond and recover while professional firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel and other first responders concentrate on the most critical needs.

Chattooga County will offer its next free CERT training class on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM. Lunch will be provided.

Training will be held at the Chattooga County Community Resource Center at 48 Eleanor Avenue in Summerville, located at the former North Summerville School off Highland Avenue.

The training will cover basic disaster response, fire suppression, basic medical operations, disaster psychology, search and rescue and additional emergency response skills.

Chattooga County EMA Director Pamela Vaughn says CERT provides an opportunity for residents who want to learn valuable emergency skills, help their neighbors, support local first responders and become better prepared to assist when an emergency occurs.

Those interested in becoming a CERT member can obtain an application by calling the Chattooga County Emergency Management Agency at 706-857-3400, option 2, or by emailing pamela.vaughn@chattoogacounty.gov.

Learn. Prepare. Serve. Make a Difference. — Chattooga County CERT, supporting the community when it matters most.