C.E.R.T. (Community Emergency Response Team) Course

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is designed to educate citizens about disaster preparedness for the hazards where they live.

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. Individuals will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster.

Goal of Citizen Corps (CERT) and the City of Mercer Island is to make communities safer, more prepared, and more resilient.

2021 Virtual CERT classes over Zoom begin Monday April 19. Classes are Monday nights, 6:00 - 8:00 PM over Zoom. Classes are open to Mercer Island residents and high school-age students. Contact Officer Jennifer Franklin at jennifer.franklin@mercerisland.gov or 206-275-7905 to register.