Media Release

​ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - Alachua County Emergency Management is enrolling citizens for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program. The program’s seven classes are on Wednesday evenings, from September 7, through October 19, 2016. Each class is from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Classes are held at the Alachua County Emergency Operations Center (1100 S.E. 27th Street, Gainesville). The classes are free, and the registration deadline is September 6.

Alachua County Emergency Management Coordinator Ebbin Spellman said, “Our community is vulnerable to a disaster such as hurricanes, wildfires, extreme weather, man-made and technological hazards to name a few.” He continued, “The CERT program is designed to prepare you to help yourself and to help others in the event of a catastrophic disaster. It teaches you how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, so you can make a difference by using your CERT training to save lives and protect property.”

Class topics include:

• Disaster Preparedness 
• Fire Safety
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Light Search and Rescue Operations 
• CERT Organization and Disaster Psychology 
• Terrorism and CERT

Click to register.

For more information, call Alachua County Emergency Management at 352-264-6500.