The National CERT Program:

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) program that educates citizens about the hazards they face in their communities and trains them in life-saving skills. If needed following a disaster, these citizen-responders use their training as part of a neighborhood or workplace team to help others when professional responders are overwhelmed or not immediately available. CERT members provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources when they arrive. CERT augments first responders when necessary and can also respond if they are unavailable. The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 to address citizen response to earthquakes. The training program that LAFD initiated was later adopted and expanded by the national Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy (NFA). The training was made available nationally by FEMA in 1993.
 



Battery Part City CERT:

During the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, thousands of residents and workers learned first hand how a disaster could overwhelm even the largest and best-trained pool of emergency personnel. The situation left people in Battery Park City to decide how to evacuate and help their injured friends and neighbors. A group of residents realized the essential need for a trained emergency response team to supplement the first responders and in November 2003, 63 volunteers received certification in accordance with FEMA, the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO), and New York City Office of Emergency Management (NYC OEM) guidelines. Currently, the BPC-CERT stands with more than 250 active members with more volunteers being trained for certification. BPC CERT is affiliated with New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM).



 
What does the BPC CERT do?
 
Through instructive and hands-on sessions, the volunteers receive training in life saving skills with emphasis on decision making, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. The BPC CERT is an organized team that is available to augment first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive. In the short time since its formation, the BPC CERT has forged a strong partnership with the management teams of all Battery Park City residential buildings and with the Battery Park City Authority (BPCA); BPC CERT has the support of Community Board #1, Office of the Manhattan Borough President, and NYC OEM. CERT leaders are also finalizing a liaison with the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the Fire Department of New York (FDNY).