The Carmel by-the-Sea Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is made up of 35 dedicated volunteers who support our Village as well as provide mutual aid to our neighboring communities.

All CERT members complete a 21-hour training designed to emphasize hands-on experience taught by FEMA trained personnel. Training includes emergency first aid, light search and rescue, traffic and crowd management along with disaster relief.

Designated as an City Support Group, CERT members participate in on-going training programs, drills, and team meetings in preparation for frequent deployments in support of both the Carmel Police and Fire departments.

These deployments include:

• Winter storm assistance
• Down power lines
• Beach or park closures
• Special event assistance
• Lost person support
• Fire incident traffic control
• Mass casualty incidents
• Structure fires
• Evidence search
• Flood evacuation

Led by the supervision of the Carmel Police Department, CERT will be there. CERT provides community members with the disaster-related know-how they need in order to be self-sufficient and support others until further help can arrive.

The CERT program is a nationally recognized program developed under the auspices of Homeland Security, FEMA and the national CERT network. Outside of Carmel, CERT programs are active in Monterey, Pacific Grove, Big Sur and Carmel Valley.

If you are interested in joining the team contact Team Captains Wanda Vollmer (831-915-3148) or Scot Smythe (650-804-8767).