Public Outreach Coordinator
(405) 496-9327
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
What is CERT?
The Community Emergency Response Team (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 CERT training learned in the classroom and during exercises, individuals can assist others in their neighborhood, workplace or school following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.
Why take CERT Training?
The primary reason for CERT training is to give people the decision making, organizational and practical skills to offer immediate assistance to family members, neighbors and associates while waiting for help.
Who can take the training?
Naturals for the training are neighborhood watch, community organizations, communities of faith, school staff, workplace employees, scouting organizations and other groups that come together regularly for a common purpose but individuals who are not affiliated with a group may also take the course to learn skills that are useful in disaster and everyday life events.
Youth Preparedness Camp
The Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security and the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council will host 2 of the annual (residential)
Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Camp (OKYPC)
The free overnight camp is open to students in grades 9-12.
July 14-19th on the Murray State College Campus in Tishomingo, OK.
The deadline to register is June 1, 2024.
Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1guxObo3ghnYDZdFCXfp-pnq0ag0U_WBCtrK4MLTsKSM/edit or through the QR code on the poster.
July 28-August 2nd on the Oklahoma Panhandle State University Campus in Goodwell, OK.
The deadline to register is June 1, 2024.
Sign up at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hlcVljQdJjmhIuOlh5LahjlZ0ILdbAFpftcyZl2tw-k/edit or through the QR code on the poster.
Participants will stay in campus residence halls. All will need their own transportation to and from the campus.
The camp is geared toward students who want to help their school and family become more prepared for emergencies. Students will learn about community action planning and gain basic emergency response skills. At the end of the camp, all participants, including adult chaperones, will get a 20-hour Community Emergency Response Team certificate. The camp is a great chance for students to develop leadership capabilities while having fun. They will leave with the basic life skills needed to improve the safety and resilience in their homes, schools, and communities. Preparing these students is the greatest gift we can give them.
All students (teams) must have a chaperone (s) who will also be attending the camp.
About the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council:
Since 2019, the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security has worked with local emergency managers, tribes, volunteer agencies, youth, and FEMA Region 6 to develop the Oklahoma Youth Preparedness Council. The council educates Oklahoma youth in emergency preparedness to develop future generations of resilient adults.
To learn how you can support the council and the OKYPC camp. For more information, please get in touch with tracey.bender@okohs.ok.gov.
Want to host a CERT class?
Check out FEMA's You Are The Help Until Help Arrives web based training.
Last Modified on
Jan 16, 2024