News from the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners
Shanel Y. Robinson, Commissioner Director ? Doug Singleterry, Commissioner Deputy Director
Sara Sooy, Commissioner ? Melonie Marano, Commissioner ? Paul Drake, Commissioner

For Immediate Release
November 3, 2023
Contact Nathan Rudy at (908) 635-8401 for more information.

CERT Volunteers Complete Basic Training
Community Volunteers from Nine Communities Are Ready to Take Their Place
on Local and County CERT Teams During Disasters and Emergencies

SOMERVILLE, NJ – Somerset County’s Office of Emergency Management graduated 21 local residents from their Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training program. These volunteers spent twenty-six hours over the month of October learning how to support their community and first-responders when disasters strike through a coordinated, team effort at the municipal or county level.

“We’ve seen over the last decade and more how important CERT teams are to disaster response in Somerset County,” said Somerset County Deputy Director Doug Singleterry, liaison to the Office of Emergency Management. “The people of Somerset County owe a debt to these volunteers who have committed through training and joining their local and County CERT team to be there when needed for their family, neighbors, and community.”



Somerset County’s 2023 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Graduates
October’s CERT class included residents of Somerset, Hillsborough, Warren, Branchburg, Franklin, Franklin Park, Raritan, Bridgewater, Flemington and Gladstone.

Following their month of training in Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism, Fire Safety, Medical Operations, Sheltering Operations, and Stop the Bleed each participant must complete a written exam and practical exercise to graduate. The CERT members conducted cribbing exercises during their final practical exercise along with a search and rescue simulation.

Local CERT programs train and organize teams of volunteers to assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, and other community members during emergencies when professional responders may not be immediately available to provide assistance.

Before, during, and after disasters, CERT volunteer teams perform basic response activities, including checking in on neighbors, distribution of information to the public, supporting emergency operations centers, and helping to manage traffic and crowds. The deployment of CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus efforts on more complex, essential, and often life-saving tasks. CERT volunteers also support their communities by organizing, promoting, and participating in emergency preparedness events, activities, and projects.

For more information regarding the CERT program, please utilize the following link:
https://www.co.somerset.nj.us/government/public-health-safety/emergency-management/cert-volunteers.