Payson Roundup

What should you do in a disaster? How would you react to a terrorist attack?

If you are CERT trained, you will know. Not only can you prepare your family to be safe, but you can respond to help neighbors when professional responders are not immediately available to help. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program teaches neighbors how to help neighbors in a disaster. You can also be a part of CERT teams that responds to emergencies or disasters in other areas of the community.

CERT is sponsored by the Payson Fire Department and FEMA.

A CERT Basic Course in Payson will begin at 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22. Classes will be held in the training room at the Main Street Fire Station, using the standard CERT curriculum from FEMA.

The training is typically an eight-week course, meeting one night per week. Class participants are provided with the training materials at no charge.

For class schedule information, please contact the training coordinator at training@paysoncert.org, To register, call Roger at 468-1365 or John at 472-3331.

CERT training educates people about disaster preparedness for emergencies or terrorist attacks that may impact their area. Class members are trained in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event. CERT members are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Volunteers who complete the CERT Basic Course may join our team to help the community in emergencies, or as needed to supplement the capabilities of the professional responders in the community.

It is expected that members will take care of themselves and their families, then are given an opportunity to assist the rest of the community in times of need.