FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
|
Federal Emergency Management Agency
|
FEMA On-Line Course To Help Community Emergency Response Teams Get - And Stay - Trained |
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) is unveiling today an on-line, independent study course
that can serve as either an introduction to those joining Community Emergency
Response Teams (CERTs) or as a refresher to current volunteer team members.
"While nothing can replace the in-person training local jurisdictions offer
to CERT volunteers, this independent course augments their education and serves
to reinforce the knowledge they've gained," said Michael D. Brown, Under
Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response. "This
new independent study course underscores the importance that FEMA places on CERT
and its importance to communities across the nation."
CERT members work with a community's emergency management officials to
provide assistance in a disaster by helping victims, organizing spontaneous
volunteers at a disaster site and supporting emergency responders.
Specialists at FEMA's Emergency Management Institute developed the course,
which is part of the institute's extensive independent study program. The
course, Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams, IS 317, has six
modules with topics that include an introduction to CERT, fire safety, hazardous
material and terrorist incidents, disaster medical operations, and search and
rescue. It takes between six and eight hours to complete the course; those
successfully finishing it receive a certification of completion. The course is
located at:
www.training.fema.gov/emiweb/is/is317.asp.
The course can be taken by anyone interested in CERT, but only those who are
actual CERT volunteers can take the in-person training FEMA offers.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security. FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the
effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal
response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also
initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages
Citizen Corps, the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire
Administration.
###
|