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In 2014 FEMA overhauled and updated its website and much of the documentation pertinent to the establishment, operation and maintenance of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). In 2016 Palm Beach County - Division of Emergency Management modified its communications requirements for CERTs. As a result of the new and modified FEMA and Palm Beach County guidance and requirements, the initial documentation of our CERTs should be appropriately modified to more closely follow these changes. This re-documentation would provide more clarity to CERT team responsibilities, practices and procedures. It can also establish a strong defense mechanism to protect our members and their Home Owners Associations from liability related to CERT activity.

Compliance with current federal, state and county guidance, directives and laws benefits the CERT organization in two ways:

Common practices and procedures, as defined by the Incident Commad System, make it easier and more efficient for your CERT to work with other organizations such as other CERTs, county Emergency Management and emergency responders including police, fire, rescue or Red Cross.




A foundation for a defense against liability prosecution is provided with demonstrated adherence to prescribed and mandated practices and procedures based on federal and state laws and statutes. These practices include:



• familiarizing the CERT members with the terms of federal and state Volunteer Protection and Good Samaritan Acts


• having CERT members attend a class and sign Liability Mitigation refresher documents every year