Niagara's Community Emergency Response Team
Get Involved
Join our Community Emergency Response Team and help your community in a time of disaster or crisis
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of trained, certified volunteers who help their community in a time of disaster or crisis. Having an emergency response team in place helps increase Niagara's safety and resiliency.
The team is trained to provide a personnel surge in the aftermath of a variety of disasters. Common ways members can provide support during or after an emergency include:
- Immediate first aid and rescue around their homes post-disaster
- Helping with disaster relief efforts
- Distribution of emergency supplies
- Sandbagging operations
- Debris management
- Disaster scene support
- Assisting with annual emergency exercises
- Other emergency duties as needed
Join the Community Emergency Response Team
Applications are closed for 2022.
Contact
For more information, email the Community Emergency Response Team.
Eligibility
To apply, you:
- Must be at least 18 years of age at time of application
- Live, work or study in Niagara
- Can commit to two years of volunteering
- Can stand and walk for long periods of time
- Can lift 25lbs to chest height comfortably
- Can pass a police vulnerable sector screening
- Have access to reliable transportation
- Have access to a computer and Internet for online training
Accepted applicants must follow Niagara Region's COVID-19 vaccination policy. This includes providing proof of vaccination, a medical exemption (verified by Niagara Region), or a creed exemption (verified by Niagara Region) before starting the position.
Training program and responsibilities
All volunteers must attend an eight-session (one evening per week) onboarding and orientation training program with additional training online. Dinner is provided at each training session. Attendance at all of the sessions is mandatory and each session will be 2.5 to 3 hours. Orientation includes:
- Introduction and personnel preparedness
- Emergency response basics, operations and local hazards
- Fire safety and suppression
- Disaster injury review
- Severe weather and local hazard awareness
- Light urban search and rescue
- Psychological aid
- Exercise and graduation
After training, all members must attend a fall and spring session each year to review and practise their skills and learn about new topics.
There are no additional obligations aside from training. However, we expect members to respond when able should a large disaster or emergency occur.
Team members will also be invited to participate in various emergency exercises and events throughout the year. Attendance at these is optional.
© Niagara Region - 1815 Sir Isaac Brock Way, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7 - Phone: 905-980-6000, Toll-free: 1-800-263-7215
