The Town of Holly Springs is considering the creation of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to support local disaster response and community events. The initiative aims to recruit volunteers who would be trained to assist in various situations, such as natural disasters or staffing needs at public gatherings.
CERT programs are designed to educate participants about disaster preparedness and train them in essential skills including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and basic medical operations. These teams operate across the country as an additional resource for professional responders.
“If you have the passion and the time, there is a way you can serve,” said Matt Stoudt, Captain of Professional Services with Holly Springs Fire-Rescue.
Volunteers could be called upon for tasks such as building or distributing emergency kits, educating residents on safety measures, providing updates during emergencies, directing people to shelters or resource centers, assisting with property assessments after incidents, checking on elderly residents, distributing supplies like food and water, supporting recovery efforts after storms, and helping clear roadways or restore other critical infrastructure.
“CERT programs are used across the nation to establish teams of volunteers that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks,” said Holly Springs Emergency Management Specialist Jennifer Mathis. “The program creates a network of trained volunteers who can be a force multiplier for our first responders.”
A free 21-hour CERT training course will be offered at Holly Springs Fire Station 1 from Friday, September 12 through Sunday, September 14. Those who complete the training will qualify to serve as part of CERT in Holly Springs and throughout North Carolina. Alternative training sessions may also be available for those unable to attend these dates.
For more information about volunteering or upcoming courses, interested individuals are encouraged to contact Stoudt or Mathis.
