West Virginia Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Programs have been very busy this year! CERT members are engaged in disaster preparedness training, planning, drills and outreach to help their communities be better prepared.
sponsored a FEMA instructed CERT Train-the-Trainer Class in June. Twenty-eight people completed the course and we now have 4 NEW CERT Programs!
  • Dunbar CERT
  • Bridgeport CERT
  • Clay County CERT
  • Tucker County CERT

Check out what local programs have been doing in 2019!  
Beckley CERT

Now serves as the lead agency for the Southern West Virginia Preparedness Partnership. This new roll enables them to work more closely with the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and allows CERT members to dispatch for search and rescue operations in Raleigh county. 

Participated in various trainings, like CPR and 1 st Aid, Active Shooter training, Narcan training, Traffic Incident Management, First Responder Rehab, Animal Response, and more!

  • Conducted the Basic CERT Training during National Preparedness Month
  • Conducted Fire Extinguisher training and preparedness education at various public events, like the annual Preparedness Fair and Earth Day.
  • Assisted at the scene of a traffic accident until professional response arrived.
  • Four members attended Volunteer WV’s Grant Writing training, which enables them to apply for grants to support their program.
  • Two members completed the CERT Train-the-Trainer course sponsored by Volunteer WV. So now they have two new certified CERT Instructors! 

For more information, contact Chris Graham
Clay County CERT
New program

  • Conducted preparedness outreach and education for students at Clay High School, reaching 250 students and staff.

  • Partnered with Clay County health to recruit volunteers and conduct emergency preparedness outreach.

For more information, contact Aiden Taylor  
Dunbar CERT
New Program

  • Held their 1st Basic CERT Training Class!
  • Received a $500 donation from the Dunbar Woman's Club.
  • Conducted preparedness outreach and education at the Dunbar Fall Festival.
  • Co-hosted a Halloween Kids Camp Out. 

For more information, contact Greg Wolfe

Hardy County CERT

  • Participated in Red Cross Shelter Training
  • Conducted preparedness outreach and education at community events, including the Hardy County Health Fair, Teacher’s Fair, Family Day, and EMS Appreciation Day.
  • Provided preparedness education to youth during AmeriCorps Energy Express' summer program.
  • Conducted traffic control and served as monitors during the WV Poultry Convention Kids parade.  

For more information, contact Fran Welton
Mid-Ohio Valley Regional CERT  (Health Dept.)

  • Conducted preparedness outreach and education during community events, like the Boys & Girls Club Safety Day (pictured below), and Back to School bash.
  • Participated in trainings, like CPR & 1st Aid and Stop the Bleed
  • Participated in WV REDI Shelter Exercise.
  • Deployed to assist the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department during their local Hepatitis A clinics. 


For more information, contact Kristine Hamilton
Monongalia County CERT (Health Dept.)

  • Participated in the WVU’s Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) Exercise. They helped set-up and run a Community Reception Center (CRC) following a possible radioactive incident.
  • Assisted with set-up and management of the local Emergency Medical Service Easter Egg Hunt.
  • Members plugged into the WV REDI on-line credentialing system to obtain ID badges for identification and deployment purposes.
 

For more information, contact Joseph Klass
Monroe County Health Department CERT  

  • Deployed to assist with a Search and Rescue/Silver Alert operation to look for a missing person in the Alderson, WV area.
  • Participated in preparedness outreach and education at the Monroe County Autumn Harvest Festival and other events during National Preparedness Month.
  • Presented emergency preparedness info at Sustainable Living Forum at Sweet Springs

For more information, contact
Pendleton County CERT 

  • CERT members participated in several disaster trainings: CPR/AED, 1st Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Volunteer Reception Center Training.
  • Sponsored a Suicide Prevention Training. Attendees included lay people, ministry, CERT, County Commission, School personnel, and those who have been touched by suicide.
  • Conducted preparedness outreach and education in their community. 

For more information contact Edna Mullenax
TEEN CERT

The CERT curriculum was taught at the following schools:

  • John D. Rockefeller Career Center as part of their studies.
  • Independence High School for their Health Science and Tech after school club via Beckley CERT.
  • Wood County Tech Center as part of their studies.
  • James Monroe High School as part of their JROTC program.

Tucker County CERT
NEW Program

Tucker County CERT is just getting started! They are forming a team in Leadmine, and there is interest from the mayor of Davis and the City of Parsons. They plan to reach out to the local high school as well.