The information presented in this site is extracted from FEMA and other authoritative websites and presented in condensed form with references to their sources. These sources are in the website library:
FEMA: Start and Maintain a CERT Program (PDF 142p) FEMA: Developing & Maintaining EOPs (PDF 124p) FEMA: CERT Emergency Communications FEMA: CERT Liability Guide (PDF 98p) FEMA/Citizen Corps: Volunteer Liability Guide (PDF 98p) - 42 U.S.C. Title 42 Chapter 139: Volunteer Protection
- FCC CFR Part 95 - Personal Radio Service
- FCC CFR Part 97 - Amateur Radio Service
- Florida Statutes 768.1355: Florida Volunteer Protection Act
- Florida Statutes 768.13: Good Samaritan Act; Immunity from civil liability
- Palm Beach County: Comprehensive EmergencyManagement Plan
Palm Beach County: CERT Communication SOG-101
This information is used as the basis for the CERT documentation set that becomes part of this program. This documentation is available to community CERTs as a strawman document so they may adopt and adapt them for their own individual use.
A complete list of information sources and their website addresses are available in the References page in Resources. The NCA documentation set is available in the Documentation pages
Training
The information for the education of CERT members and managers is derived from FEMA,FCC and Palm Beach County requirements. NCA does not provide direction or guidance to CERTs or CERT members and managers.
Sections 4 through 7 of the FEMA "Starting and Maintaining a CERT Program" [pages 63-107] address acquiring, tailoring, staffing and delivering training. NCA will initially include training as defined by FEMA for "CERT Basic Training" and supplementary training as prescribed by the FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS). Communications certification is provided by the FAA, ARRL and ARES organizations.
This training may include formal classroom studies, on-line courses, reading material, practice drills and exercises.
- Basic CERT Participant skills training is offered free of charge from the Palm Beach County - Division of Emergency Management
- Different positions held by members in the neighborhood CERT organization have varying training, qualification and certification requirements as spelled out by the above cited federal agencies. These positions include:
- CERT managers
- Incident Command Post personnel
- Emergency Communications (EmComm) radio operators
- Contact Team members who operate in the field
A complete list of training requirements and their website addresses are available in the Training page.