Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Virginia CERT's



Name of Program: Virginia Beach CERT
Geographic Area: Virginia Beach, Virginia
Point of Contact: Cookie Ketcham
Phone Number: (757) 385-2914
E-mail address: vbcert@vbgov.com
Website address: http://www.vbgov.com
Brief Description: Program was initiated in June of 2003 and continues with at least 5 classes per year. VBCERT is enhanced by partnerships with EMS, Police, Amateur Radio groups, MRC, Neighborhood Watch, and the VB School System. Team Leadership has been developed. City is broken into 4 districts with individual district leadership in place. Continuing education is offered throughout the year. Concentration on neighborhood teams has begun and training in businesses and government is planned for the near future.


Name of Program: James City County CERT
Geographic Area: Williamsburg, James City County
Point of Contact: Margaret Tucker
Phone Number: (757) 253-0574
E-mail address: margaret@james-city.va.us
Website address: http://www.james-city.va.us/resources/fire/certprogram/dept_fire_cert_home.html
Brief Description: The first CERT class graduated in 2003, with 7 more since! Our goal is to have active teams in every neighborhood. On-going training and opportunities for extra activities keep CERT members engaged. Join the fun!


Name of Program: York County CERT Program
Geographic Area: York County, VA
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.yorkcounty.gov/fls
Brief Description: York County's Program Goals 1. To promote emergency preparedness in our neighborhoods 2. To offer neighborhood residents an opportunity to develop skills that will help in the initial response and ltaer during the recovery from a major emergency/disaster. 3.To develop neighborhood self-sufficiency to manage during and after a major emergency or disaster.


Name of Program: Campbell County Citizen Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Campbell County, Town of Altavista, Town of Brookneal
Point of Contact: Karen Briggs
Phone Number: (434) 332-9843
E-mail address: kcbriggs@co.campbell.va.us
Website address: http://www.co.campbell.va.us/depts/publicsafety/pages/cert.aspx


Name of Program: Shenandoah Valley Project Impact
Geographic Area: Central Shenandoah Valley, Augusta, Bath, Rockbridge, and Rockingham County
Point of Contact: Rebecca Joyce
Phone Number: (540) 885-5174
E-mail address: rebecca@cspdc.org
Website address: http://www.cspdc.org
Brief Description: The goal of SVPI's CERT program is to provide training to citizens of the Shenandoah Valley in Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation, Fire Safety and Supression, Basic First Aid skills, crime prevention methods, and terrorism awareness to empower them to help their families and neighbors in the event of an emergency, natural or man-made disaster.


Name of Program: Albemarle, Charlottesville CERT
Geographic Area: Charlottesville, Virginia
Point of Contact: Marge Thomas
Phone Number: (434) 971-1263
E-mail address: info@charlottesvillecert.org
Website address: http://www.CharlottesvilleCERT.org
Brief Description: To provide an educated community the means to assist our local first responders in emergency situations.


Name of Program: Chesterfield County CERT Program
Geographic Area: Chesterfield County
Point of Contact: Lynda Price
Phone Number: (804) 748-1236
E-mail address: pricel@chesterfield.gov
Website address: http://www.chesterfield.gov/PublicSafety/Fire/CERT/
Brief Description: Chesterfield CERT Program is providing the FEMA CERT training and continuous training to neighborhoods to prepare them to prepare themselves and their neighbors for any disaster that can occur in Chesterfield County Virginia. During nondisaster times, CERT members are installing smoke detectors, training new CERT members, recruiting new students for training and conducting skill drills.


Name of Program: King William County CERT
Geographic Area: King William County, Aylett
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov


Name of Program: Lancaster County CERT
Geographic Area: Lancaster County
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.lancova.com and/or www.geocities.com/lccert/
Brief Description: New CERT program being formed in the County for the citizens for Lancaster and Lower Northumberland Counties. Interested personnel should contact Randy Kellum or Scott Hudson @ 804-462-6010 for more infomation.


Name of Program: Lenowisco Community Emergency Response Team Program
Geographic Area: Lenowisco and Cumberland Plateau, Lee, Scott, Wise, Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Wise Counties and the City of Norton
Point of Contact: Eleanor S Cantrell
Title: n/a
Phone Number: 149
E-mail address: ecantrell@vdh.state.va.us
Brief Description: The purpose of the program is to expand the capacity of the community's existing medical services by making more efficient use of emergency medical resources.


Name of Program: New River Valley CERT
Geographic Area: Montgomery County & Virginia Tech
Point of Contact: J. Grady DeVilbiss
Phone Number: (540) 639-9313
E-mail address: grady.devilbiss@vdh.virginia.gov
Website address: http://www.nrvpdc.org


Name of Program: Pittsylvania County-Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Pittsylvania County
Point of Contact: James Davis
Phone Number: (434) 432-7920
E-mail address: jdavis@pittgov.org
Website address: http://www.pittgov.org/cert
Brief Description: Classes are scheduled to begin on September 22, 2003. Classes will be taught at 4 County Middle Schools the same week and continuing for 8 weeks with graduation date of November 15, 2003. Currently 14 Instructors are scheduled to teach all classes.


Name of Program: PORTSMOUTH VA CERT
Geographic Area: Portsmouth County
Point of Contact: Troy Tilley
Title: n/a
Phone Number: (757) 393-8765
E-mail address: tilleyt@portsmouthva.gov
Brief Description: CERT Classes are held at the South Side Regional Fire Academy. To register for the next class or for more information, please contact Susan Branche at (757) 393-8123.


Name of Program: Prince William County CERT Program
Geographic Area: Prince William County
Point of Contact: Mike O'Brien
Title: n/a
Phone Number: (703) 792-4474
E-mail address: mobrien@pwcgov.org
Brief Description: To train citizens to assist in their community in case of an overwhelming disaster that delays the County emergency response. CERT members may also be called upon by the county to assist in non-emergency situations such as providing disaster preparedness education for the community.


Name of Program: Shenandoah Valley Project Impact
Geographic Area: Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Bath County, Central Shenandoah Valley
Point of Contact: Rebecca Joyce
Phone Number: (540) 885-5174
E-mail address: rebecca@cspdc.org
Website address: http://www.cspdc.org
Brief Description: The goal of Shenandoah Valley Project Impact's CERT program is to help Valley residents learn to protect themselves, their families, & neighbors from natural & man-made disasters through training in disaster preparedness & mitigation, fire safety, basic first-aid skills, crime prevention, & terrorism awareness. Our program is taught through a 2-1/2 hour class, one night a week, for eight weeks.


Name of Program: Tazewell County CERT Program
Geographic Area: Tazewell County
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.tazewellcounty.org
Brief Description: Our program serves the Tazwell County community with five municipal town localities established within our jurisdiction. We believe this program may be a key factor for raising awareness in our community about disaster preparedness. Training will begin in April 2004!


Name of Program: Chesapeake Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Chesapeake, Virginia
Point of Contact: Ted Ambrose
Title: CERT Coordinator
Phone Number: (757) 382-6003
E-mail address: tambrose@fire.city.chesapeake.va.us
Website address: http://www.chesapeake.va.us
Brief Description: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a new program implemented by the Chesapeake Fire Department. It's intent is to solicit volunteers from the community to train on different modules related to providing assistance to areas of the city that may be damaged from a disaster. Our goal is to have these self sufficient groups of individuals working hand in hand in providing a helping service to the community before emergency services can actually reach the scene.


Name of Program: Alexandria CERT
Geographic Area: City of Alexandria
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.ci.alexandria.va.us
Brief Description: .Our CERT progrma was implemented in October 2003. We are aggressively recruiting for new members through Civic Associations, business and communityy safety advocates. Please call for information.Our next session begins January 20, 2004.


Name of Program: Colonial Heights CERT
Geographic Area: City of Colonial Heights
Point of Contact: Ed Snyder
Title: Deputy Fire Chief/Deputy EM Coordinator
Phone Number: (804) 520-9387
E-mail address: snydere@colonial-heights.com
Website address: http://www.colonial-heights.com
Brief Description: The City of Colonial Heights is forming its first CERT. Classes will begin in the end of May 2003 and run for eight weeks. This program is being made possible by a grant through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.


Name of Program: City of Manassas Park CERT
Geographic Area: City of Manassas Park
Point of Contact: Randy Cohen
Phone Number: (703) 393-1494
E-mail address: cohen.randy@comcast.net


Name of Program: Martinsville Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: City of Martinsville
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.ci.martinsville.us/fireems/
Brief Description: The goal of Martinsville Fire & EMS is to use this class as a tool for the community. This class should give the community the information they need to help themselves before, during, and after a disaster.


Name of Program: City of Richmond CERT
Geographic Area: City of Richmond
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Brief Description: The City of Richmond will be initiating CERT training in the Fall of 2003. Agencies involved in the training process will be the Police and Fire Departments and the Richmond Ambulance Authority.


Name of Program: Hampton CERT (Community Emergency Response Team)
Geographic Area: Hampton, Virginia
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://hamptonfire.tni.net
Brief Description: The City of Hampton Division of Fire & Rescue sponsors CERT. Hampton was the first jurisdiction in Virginia to offer the CERT program, in August 1999. The Division of Fire & Rescue conducts two programs a year. All classes (2 1/2 hr) are taught by Emergency Services Instructors over an eight or four week schedule. The eighth and final class (3 1/2 hrs) consists of hands on practical exercises incorporating the skills students learned the previous seven classes, (course total of 21 hrs). Certificates of participation are issued upon completion.


Name of Program: Henry County CERT
Geographic Area: Henry County
Point of Contact: Steve Eanes
Title: n/a
Phone Number: (276) 634-4660
E-mail address: seanes@co.henry.va.us
Website address: http://hcdps.com
Brief Description: We are just finishing our T-T-T and we will be recuriting for our first class to start before the first of the year. Our objective is to train our citizens to become more self sufficient and to get back to neighbors taking care of neighbors.


Name of Program: King George County CERT
Geographic Area: King George County
Point of Contact: Wendy Shepherd
Phone Number: (540) 220-4492
E-mail address: wshepherd@co.kinggeorge.state.va.us
Brief Description: By training CERT members we hope to better prepare citizens to take care of themselves until help arrives in an emergency situation. CERT teams will be used to evacuate affected areas by disaster or emergency and report their findings to the Emergency Operations Center. CERTs will be prepared to assist citizens during disaster and emergency situations and will assist in teaching CERT training.


Name of Program: Roanoke Valley CERT
Geographic Area: City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, City of Salem, Botetourt County, Town of Vinton
Point of Contact: Betty Whittaker
Phone Number: (540) 985-3546
E-mail address: pending@pending.com
Brief Description: CERT is a collaborative effort with the City of Roanoke, Roanoke County, City of Salem, Town of Vinton and Botetourt County. The program will be coordinated through the Roanoke Valley Chapter of American Red Cross with support instructors from the respective EMS agencies.


Name of Program: CERT, Suffolk, Va
Geographic Area: City of Suffolk Virginia
Point of Contact: James Judkins, Jr.
Phone Number: (757) 923-2110
E-mail address: jjudkins@city.suffolk.va.us
Brief Description: Covering 430 square miles, the City of Suffolk is both rural and urban in character. There are many areas in the city that can be cut off emergency responders due to a catastrophic event. This fact was proven during Hurricane Floyd in 1999. Our Goal is to train and organize CERT Teams in these areas. We are currently scheduling 4 classes per year.


Name of Program: Williamsburg Volunteer Citizen Corps Program
Geographic Area: City of Williamsburg
Point of Contact: Peter Walentisch
Phone Number: (757) 220-6166
E-mail address: pwalenti@ci.williamsburg.va.us
Brief Description: To utilize trained Citizen Corps volunteers to assist first responders in emergency situations.


Name of Program: Winchester-Frederick Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: City of Winchester
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Brief Description: CERT training in basic response and organizational skills will enable Winchester-Frederick CERT members in emergencies to provide immediate assistance to others, organize other volunteers and collect disaster intelligence to assist with prioritization and allocation of resources.


Name of Program: County of Page, Town of Luray, Town of Stanley, Town of Shenandoah
Geographic Area: County of Page
Point of Contact: Tina Sumpter
Phone Number: (540) 743-4142
E-mail address: pageplcm@shentel.net
Brief Description: Page County's CERT program is presently in the planning stages. Please contact the above contact information if you're interested in the program.


Name of Program: County of Patrick CERT
Geographic Area: County of Patrick & Town of Stuart
Point of Contact: Michael Hudson
Title: n/a
Phone Number: (276) 694-4940
E-mail address: mhudson@co.patrick.va.us


Name of Program: Fairfax County CERT
Geographic Area: Fairfax County, VA
Point of Contact: n/a n/a
Phone Number:
E-mail address: na@citizencorps.gov
Website address: http://www.fairfaxcountycitizencorps.org
Brief Description: Fairfax County is an urban/suburban community of over 1 million citizens covering 399 square miles. The 26 hour CERT training course will prepare citizen teams to respond to an emergency in their community. The initial course will be held in September and will be taught by fire and rescue personnel.


Name of Program: GMU - CERT
Geographic Area: Fairfax County, George Mason University
Point of Contact: Jay Callan
Title: n/a
Phone Number: (703) 993-2473
E-mail address: jcallan@gmu.edu
Website address: http://www.gmu.edu/service/cert/index.htm
Brief Description: The goal of our program is to train GMU staff, faculty, and students to assist the University with its emergency management efforts.


Name of Program: Gloucester County CERT
Geographic Area: Gloucester County
Point of Contact: Jane Wenner
Phone Number: (804) 693-1390
E-mail address: jwenner@gloucesterva.info
Website address: http://www.gloucesterva.info/es/home.htm
Brief Description: We are offering CERT Classes throughout 2007 please refer to the county website at http://www.gloucesterva.info/es/CERTInfo.htm for detailed information. This two day class requires registration and is to train CERT members.


Name of Program: Accomack County CERT
Geographic Area: Accomack County
Point of Contact: Jennifer Justis
Phone Number: (757) 787-5880
E-mail address: JJ.Justis@vdh.virginia.gov
Brief Description: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training is now available on the Eastern Shore. The CERT training program prepares citizens and communities to take a more active role in emergency preparedness. Citizens will learn how to provide help for their family and neighbors in emergency situations -- whether caused by terrorism, technological disasters or severe weather. Please contact Jennifer Justis at the above contact information if you're interested in being a part of this vital program!


Name of Program: Amherst County CERT Program
Geographic Area: Amherst County & Town of Amherst
Point of Contact: Jack Ball
Phone Number: (434) 946-9307
E-mail address: jwball@countyofamherst.com


Name of Program: Arlington County Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Arlington, Virginia
Point of Contact: Cynthia Kellams
Title: Arlington County CERT Citizen Liaison/Volunteer Coordinator
Phone Number:
E-mail address: ArlingtonCERT@aol.com
Website address: http://www.arlingtonva.us/Departments/EmergencyManagement/EmergencyManagementCERT.aspx
Brief Description: CERT training for Arlington County residents is offered throughout the year. To be eligible, you must be at least 18 years old and able to participate in all aspects of the training. Those who complete the training, along with two online incident command courses, are assigned to neighborhood teams that meet on a regular basis to refresh skills. Occasional opportunities for advanced/continuing education are also provided.


Name of Program: Brunswick County Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Brunswick
Point of Contact: Bill Parrish
Phone Number: (434) 848-6176
E-mail address: dvfd402@meckcom.net


Name of Program: Louisa County Virginia Community Emergency Response Team
Geographic Area: Louisa County
Point of Contact: Greg Fuller
Phone Number: (540) 872-5980
E-mail address: CERT@louisa.org
Brief Description: We are now just starting up and are in the process handing out new JUMP KITS, writing our SOPs and obtaining additional training.


Name of Program: VDOT CERT at Work -VDOT Fredericksburg District Office
Geographic Area: City of Fredericksburg
Point of Contact: Sue Maddox Toth
Phone Number: (804) 692-0176
E-mail address: Esue.Maddox-Toth@VirginiaDOT.org
Brief Description: A modified CERT program for state employees within the Virginia Department of Transportation. Giving our employees added abilities and empowering them to "do the right thing" in an emergency at work or at home.


Name of Program: VDOT CERT at Work - VDOT Central Office
Geographic Area: VDOT Central Office Complex
Point of Contact: Sue Maddox Toth
Phone Number: (804) 692-0176
E-mail address: Esue.Maddox-Toth@VirginiaDOT.org
Brief Description: A modified CERT program for state employees within the Virginia Department of Transportation. Giving our employees added abilities and empowering them to "do the right thing" in an emergency at work or at home.


Name of Program: City of Fairfax CERT
Geographic Area: City of Fairfax
Point of Contact: Shawn Dunstan
Phone Number: (703) 273-8109
E-mail address: sdunstan@fairfaxva.gov
Website address: http://fairfaxva.gov
Brief Description: The City of Fairfax Citizen Corps gives citizens living in the community an organized way of volunteering with disaster preparedness, response and recovery organizations and homeland security agencies. These organizations work to prepare individuals, families, neighborhoods, schools, and businesses for the next disaster and respond to emergencies that affect our communities. We intend for our citizens to be better prepared to survive and recover from all-hazards including severe weather, flooding, major power outage, fire, transportation or hazardous materials incidents, weapons of mass destruction such as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive-incendiary incidents. Trained and informed citizens will be better able to help themselves, their families, neighbors, and co-workers in the event of a disaster that slows, hinders, or overwhelms normal response capability. These citizens may also help prevent a terrorist attack or criminal act by watching for, and reporting to authorities, suspicious persons, vehicles, or activity at sites such as drinking water system facilities and airports.