Community Emergency Response Teams: Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Tallahassee – Volunteer Florida announced today that it is awarding $300,000 in federal funding to 40 law enforcement organizations, local emergency management offices, municipalities, and counties across the state to establish or enhance Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT).These organizations will match the funding dollar for dollar through cash or in-kind investments. The program is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA) and administered by Volunteer Florida.
“Volunteer Florida’s CERT funding specifically trains Floridians to take action following emergencies or disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes,” said Chester W. Spellman, Volunteer Florida Chief Executive Officer. “This unique training allows citizens to support the critical work of our emergency management officials by deploying CERT volunteers when they are needed, saving taxpayer dollars.”
CERT was created as a grassroots approach to encourage “neighbors helping neighbors” in the event of emergencies or disasters. Grantees conduct emergency management training to enhance the capabilities of local emergency management personnel. Following their training, grantees deploy citizens to impacted areas so that they can assist in response and recovery. Citizens are prepared to assist with light search and rescue, offer immediate help to victims until professional services arrive, provide evacuation assistance, and support damage assessment teams.
“The CERT program allows communities to recruit and train civilians as neighborhood, business and government teams that become auxiliary responders during disasters,” said Bryan Koon, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management. “We are thrilled that Volunteer Florida is administering this funding for Florida.”
Volunteer Florida’s 2016-2017 CERT grantees are as follows:
| Jurisdiction | County | Grant Funding |
|---|---|---|
| City of Orlando Office of Emergency Management CERT | Orange | $9800 |
| Orange County Office of Emergency Management Citizen Corps | Orange | $7800 |
| Orange County Office of Emergency Management CERT | Orange | $7800 |
| CERT of The Villages | Sumter | $7800 |
| Hernando County Sheriff's Office Emergency Management CERT | Hernando | $7800 |
| Nature Coast Citizen Corps Council | Hernando | $7800 |
| Pasco County Office of Emergency Management CERT | Pasco | $7800 |
| Flagler County Citizen Corps | Flagler | $7800 |
| Flagler County Emergency Management CERT Program | Flagler | $7800 |
| Polk County Emergency Management Citizen Corps | Polk | $7800 |
| Charlotte County Emergency Management CERT | Charlotte | $7600 |
| City of Seminole CERT | Pinellas | $7600 |
| Pinellas County Citizen Corps Council | Pinellas | $7600 |
| Franklin County Emergency Management CERT | Franklin | $7600 |
| Indian River State College Citizen Corps | St Lucie | $7600 |
| Cape Coral Florida CERT Program | Lee | $7600 |
| Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management CERT | Palm Beach | $7600 |
| Pasco County Office of Emergency Management Citizen Corps | Pasco | $7600 |
| Santa Rosa County Division of Emergency Management CERT | Santa Rosa | $7600 |
| Santa Rosa County Division of Emergency Management Citizen Corps | Santa Rosa | $7600 |
| East Lake Tarpon Fire District/EL CERT | Pinellas | $7400 |
| Taylor County CERT | Taylor | $7400 |
| Town of Century Citizen Corps | Escambia | $7400 |
| Lealman Special Fire Control District CERT | Pinellas | $7400 |
| Indian River State College CERT | St Lucie | $7400 |
| Palm Beach County Division of Emergency Management Citizen Corps | Palm Beach | $7400 |
| Hillsborough County Citizen Corps | Hillsborough | $7400 |
| Hillsborough County CERT | Hillsborough | $7400 |
| Town of Davie Fire Rescue Department CERT | Broward | $7400 |
| Town of Davie Fire Rescue Department Citizen Corps | Broward | $7400 |
| Escambia County Citizen Corps | Escambia | $7000 |
| Citrus County Sheriff's Office CERT | Citrus | $7000 |
| Citrus County Sheriff's Office Citizen Corps | Citrus | $7000 |
| Walton County Citizen Corps | Walton | $7000 |
| Walton County CERT | Walton | $7000 |
| City of Pensacola CERT | Escambia | $7000 |
| City of Pensacola Citizen Corps | Escambia | $7000 |
| Town of Century CERT | Escambia | $7000 |
| Lee County Emergency Management Volunteers Citizen Corps | Lee | $7000 |
| Polk County Emergency Management CERT | Polk | $7000 |