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The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program trains people to be prepared for emergency situations in their community and neighborhoods. CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, collect disaster information to support professional first responder efforts and provide that first neighborhood help in the immediate hours following a major emergency. It is families helping themselves and helping neighbors to prepare, respond, and recover in their own neighborhood.

Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, and Floyd, tornadoes, large wildfires, hazardous material incidents and acts of terrorism (such as the World Trade Center) have clearly shown that emergency personnel are overloaded during the initial hours following a disaster. They may not be able to reach areas for some time or have limited personnel to respond to large-scale disasters. The most obvious answer to fill this gap is to rely upon the members of the neighborhoods themselves for immediate, short-term help.

CERT training gives you the decision-making and physical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors and business associates in an efficient and effective manner, without placing yourself in unnecessary danger.

When, how, and where is CERT?

CERT is now! A CERT team is your neighbors and business colleagues who, following training, initiate neighborhood or business teams, whose actions make a difference. Following a 21-hour training program and on-going efforts, the team can manage utilities, put out small fires, provide lifesaving interventions, perform basic search and rescue operations, and assist in damage assessment, evacuation and rapid sheltering.

Isn’t it time you looked into CERT?

For more information, contact Titusville CERT Coordinator Sam DiBlasio at (321) 385-3183 sdiblasio@cfl.rr.com or Titusville Fire and Emergency Services, (321) 383-5708.

Sam is a long time resident of Titusville, living and raising his family in our community for over 30 years. He current works at Patrick Air Force Base, after a long career at Kennedy Space Center in our nation's space program.

Joining our CERT organization three years ago, he undertook his initial training with the Brevard County Emergency Management office. He is a certified CERT trainer and one of three team leaders who lead the Titusville CERT team. Sam is also a key figure behind a movement to form a new Brevard County CERT organization. The proposed organization would unite all city and county CERT organizations, allowing continuity of training and operational effectiveness. There are now 700 CERT-trained volunteers in Brevard County. Sam's philosophy is constant communications and continued skills training.