What is CERT?

If a major disaster affects Hurst, our citizens may be forced to rely on each other for help in order to meet there immediate life saving and life-sustaining needs. The Hurst Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a training program that prepares citizen volunteers to respond to emergency situations that may affect our community. This program teaches emergency preparedness and basic disaster response techniques that will prepare citizen volunteers to take an active role in providing critical support to professional first response members during emergencies. The Hurst CERT program is sponsored by the Hurst Fire Department.

We are looking for you if:

• You are 18 or older
• Live in Hurst
• You are able to perform some physical activities
• Want to give back to your community
• You are able to pass a background investigation
• Willing to invest your time in a 9 week CERT training course ending with a final field day exercise 

The Hurst, Euless, and Bedford CERT teams will be partnering to host a CERT Basic Training Class. This class will meet on Friday-Sunday, November 1–3, 2024. 

The CERT program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations 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.

The CERT course will be held at Old Bedford Library 1805 L Don Dodson Rd, Bedford, TX.

It is taught by a trained team of first responders and experienced volunteers who have completed a CERT Train-the-Trainer course conducted by their state training office for emergency management, or FEMA's Emergency Management Institute (EMI).  CERT training includes disaster preparedness, small fire suppression, basic medical procedures and light search and rescue operations.

This training is sponsored by FEMA and managed by the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

Seating is limited to 30 participants with 10 seats allocated to each CERT team. The first 10 people to respond will receive a seat in the class. Full participation is required to complete the course.

HEB CERT Basic Training Course:

Date and Time:
Friday, November 1, 2024, 6-10 p.m.
Saturday November 2, 2024, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday November 3, 2024, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Location: Old Bedford Library
1805 L Don Dodson Rd, Bedford, TX 76021

Cost: $25.00 (Optional for lunch. You may bring your own if desired) - more information will be sent after responding.

If interested in signing up for the training course; you can download the application here, fill out and drop it off or mail it to the following address:

Hurst Fire Administration
attn: CERT
2100 Precinct Line Road
Hurst, TX 76054

Questions?  You can email us at cert@hursttx.gov

What can you do to be prepared in the event of an emergency?

A personal 72 hour Emergency Kit

Part of our program is to teach our community to be prepared to help themselves in an emergency. A 72-hour emergency kit is one way we can help ourselves.

FEMA suggested list for personal 72-hour emergency kit.

Maintaining your Personal Kit

Just as important as putting your supplies together is maintaining them so they are safe to use when needed? Here are some tips to keep your supplies ready and in good condition:

• Keep canned food in a cool, dry place.
• Store boxed food in tightly closed plastic or metal containers to protect from pests and to
  extend its shelf life.
• Throw out any canned good that becomes swollen, dented or corroded.
• Create a rotation plan. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in
  the front.
• Change stored food and water supplies every six months. Be sure to write the date you
  store it on all containers.
• Re-think your needs every year and update your kit, as your family’s needs change.
• Keep items in airtight plastic bags and put your entire disaster supplies kit in one or two
  easy-to-carry containers, such as an unused trashcan, camping backpack or duffel bag.

HAVE A PLAN AND PRACTICE IT!

• Remember during an emergency, cell phone circuits are overloaded, and power is usually the first to go down, don’t rely on them.
• Know where to meet family or contact them after an emergency.
• Have a designated spot everyone will try to get to after an emergency.
• If you are out of town, have a designated out of town relative be the contact for everyone to call when they are able to.
• Download full flyer with complete program