Starting a CERT Program
Step 5: Tailoring Training
Words of Advice: Tips for Tailoring Training
Stew Anderson - Natrona County, Wyoming
Not All Communities Are the Same
The most beneficial training we offer is the basic CERT class itself because that has made most of the folks hungry for further classes.
It's important to remember that not all communities have the same types of hazards that affect them so you want to be hazard-specific to your area. Also your resources are not the same nationwide.
Joe Lowry - Memphis, Tennessee
People Relate to Local Examples
The CERT training materials provided are good but you also need to add quite a bit of local information. This is necessary so people can relate to the information being presented.
Rachel Jacky - Portland, Oregon
Absolutely Localize Training
The off-the-shelf training materials are good but you have to localize the FEMA curriculum to feature your community's hazards and vulnerabilities.
Frank Lucier - San Francisco, California
Tailor Both to the Community and Audience
I feel that the initial CERT training is the most critical and beneficial. That's when you get them in the door. If it isn't effective and enjoyable for the participants, you have lost them forever.
Training should be tailored to the threats faced by the community. Second, it should be tailored not just to the community but the audience. All communities have different communities within them. Faith-based groups are different from neighborhood groups which are different from workplace groups which are different from school groups. To be effective when the disaster strikes the training should fit the group, not the group fit the training.