The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people
to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in their communities.
When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first
responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize
spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help
with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the
community. There are active CERT teams in all five boroughs of New York
City.

The New York City CERT program is a collaborative effort between OEM,
the Fire Department, Police Department, and the American Red Cross in
Greater New York. With more than 56 active CERTs throughout the five
boroughs, OEM aims to have one CERT in each of the city's 59 Community
Boards.

The Office of Emergency Management will be having free CERT Training
starting:

Wednesday, March 3 in Far Rockaway Queens Thursday, March 4 in Northwest
Manhattan Mondays, March 8 in Central Brooklyn Wednesdays, March 17 in
Staten Island Thursdays, March 18 in Central Bronx

You can access this website to receive more information on the program:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/oem/html/home/home.shtml

If anyone is interested, please call the hotline at 718-422-8585 or get in
contact with your local team. It is excellent training on community
preparedness. It is a 10 week program, once a week, on a weekday, 3
hours."