Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Keeping You Safe

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are groups of active residents that have received special training for the purpose of enhancing their ability to recognize, respond to, and recover from a major emergency affecting the Murphy community. Learn how you can help yourself, your family, and your community during a disaster.

The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

How CERT Works

During a disaster, teams assist emergency response teams in damage assessment, accounting for residents and securing quick, accessible routes into their neighborhoods. CERT teams also support public safety professions by searching for missing persons, assisting at public events and other support functions that enhance emergency management.

Join Today

Murphy is actively recruiting residents to be trained for this program. No training or prior experience is required; however, applicants must be at least 18 years of age, resident of Murphy and, to be part of the active team following certification, must pass a background check. For additional information on this program can be obtained by attending one of the information sessions, or by visiting the Citizen Corps website. You may also contact Murphy Fire Rescue at 972-468-4300. 

Online/Hands-on Hybrid

A new method of instruction and certification for CERT members is being initiated to make it more convenient for interested individuals who may find it difficult to attend in-person sessions. The hybrid basic training CERT course can be divided into an eight-week online learning curriculum with two in-person tag-up sessions. A final online exam is combined with a final hands-on exam at the end of the course.

Schedule

Registration for the hybrid version is now open and will remain open until March 13, 2023. Two informational question-and-answer sessions are scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 7-8:30 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 5 from 3-4:30 p.m. Both are scheduled for the Murphy Fire Rescue Training Room, 206 North Murphy Road.

The initial three-week online classes begin the weeks of Feb. 6, Feb. 13, and Feb. 20. These are followed by the first hands-on tag-up session on Saturday, Feb. 25. The two-hour tag-up session is repeated on Wednesday, March 1.

The following four-week online classes begin the weeks of Feb. 27, March 6, March 13, and March 20. These are followed by the second hands-on tag-up session on Saturday, March 25, repeated on Wednesday, March 29.

The last one-week online classes start on March 27 and are followed by the online final exam during the week of April 3. The final hands-on exam is scheduled for Saturday, April 22 and repeated on Saturday, April 29.

More information can be obtained by contacting Murphy Fire Rescue or by calling 972-468-4300. There is no cost to participate.

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