Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Keeping You Safe

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members are a group 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 before, during, and after 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, a resident of Murphy and, to be part of the active team following certification, must pass a background check. Additional information on this program can be obtained by attending one of the information sessions, or by visiting the CERT website. You may also contact Murphy Fire Rescue at 972-468-4300.

Online/Hands-on Hybrid

A method of instruction and certification for CERT members is being utilized to make it more convenient for interested individuals who may find it difficult to attend in-person sessions. The hybrid basic training CERT course is 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 will open July 18, 2025. An Informational question-and-answer session is scheduled for Thursday July 31, 2025, from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. This will be held at the Murphy Fire-Rescue Training Room, 206 North Murphy Road.

This is a partial self-paced class along with a couple in-person classes. There will be two Mid-Term hands-on sessions at the Murphy Fire-Rescue Training Room. Those dates are Thursday September 4, 2025, and Thursday October 2, 2025, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm.

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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