When tornadoes, flooding, severe storms or other emergencies strike, firefighters, law enforcement officers and medical crews can quickly find themselves responding to multiple emergencies at the same time. That is where trained community volunteers can become an important part of the response.

The Chattooga County Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, is looking for additional volunteers, and a free training class is scheduled for Saturday, September 19.

The training will be held from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM at the Chattooga County Community Resource Center, 48 Eleanor Avenue in Summerville, at the former North Summerville School off Highland Avenue. Lunch will be provided.

What Is CERT?

CERT is a FEMA-supported program that trains ordinary citizens in basic emergency and disaster-response skills. CERT volunteers are not intended to replace firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement officers or other professional responders. Instead, they are trained to safely help their families, neighbors and community and to support professional emergency personnel when needed.

Training includes basic disaster response, fire suppression, basic medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology and team organization.

The concept is particularly important during a widespread disaster. A major tornado, flood or severe storm can generate far more calls for help than local emergency agencies can immediately handle. Professional responders have to prioritize life-threatening emergencies, and it may take time before assistance reaches every neighborhood.

CERT gives residents basic training so they can take appropriate action during that critical period while staying within the limits of their training.

CERT Grew Out Of Lessons Learned From Major Earthquakes

The idea behind CERT dates to the 1980s.

Los Angeles officials traveled to Japan in 1985 and studied how residents had been trained to assist their neighborhoods following earthquakes. Later that year, officials examined the response to the devastating Mexico City earthquake.

In Mexico City, ordinary citizens spontaneously began digging through collapsed buildings and conducting rescues. Volunteers were credited with hundreds of successful rescues, but more than 100 untrained volunteers reportedly died while participating in rescue efforts.

The experience demonstrated both the tremendous value of citizens willing to help and the danger of attempting emergency work without proper training.

The Los Angeles Fire Department established a pilot civilian training program in 1986, initially training 30 people in skills including fire suppression, first aid and light search and rescue.

Following the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, Los Angeles expanded the concept. In 1993, FEMA made CERT training available to communities nationwide, adapting it for emergencies and disasters beyond earthquakes.

What Can A CERT Volunteer Actually Do?

CERT members can be trained to perform a variety of basic functions depending on the emergency and the needs of their community.

That can include checking on neighbors, identifying hazards, providing basic first aid, helping control minor bleeding, assisting with disaster medical operations, conducting light search and rescue, helping with small-fire suppression and providing information to emergency officials.

CERT volunteers can also assist with community events and preparedness efforts before a disaster ever occurs.

FEMA incorporates CERT into the Incident Command System, allowing trained volunteers to work within the same organized command structure used by emergency-response agencies rather than having unaffiliated volunteers independently entering dangerous areas.

And the program has already had a real-world role locally. In April 2025, Chattooga County CERT volunteers assisted when three people became stranded by floodwaters in Summerville, according to previous reports.

Why Volunteers Are Important

One of CERT’s most important purposes is increasing the number of people in a community who know what to do before professional help can arrive.

In a large-scale emergency, the same firefighters, deputies, police officers, EMS personnel and emergency-management officials may be needed at numerous locations simultaneously.

A trained CERT volunteer may already be in the neighborhood.

That person can assess what is happening, recognize situations that are too dangerous to enter, provide basic assistance within their training and relay useful information to emergency personnel.

CERT training also benefits volunteers even if they are never formally activated. The same preparedness, fire-safety, medical and disaster-response skills can be used to protect their own families and neighbors during an emergency.

Free Training September 19

The upcoming Chattooga County class will cover basic disaster response, fire suppression, basic medical operations, disaster psychology, search and rescue and other emergency-response skills.

The class will be:

Saturday, September 19, 2026
8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Chattooga County Community Resource Center
48 Eleanor Avenue, Summerville

Lunch will be provided, and the training is free.

Those interested in obtaining an application or learning more about joining Chattooga County CERT can contact the county at 706-857-3400, option 2, or email pamela.vaughn@chattoogacounty.gov.

The need behind CERT is simple: during a major emergency, government resources can be stretched thin, while neighbors are already on the scene. Training those willing to help gives Chattooga County another layer of preparedness when minutes matter.