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In 2002, President Bush asked all Americans to volunteer in service to their country. The Citizen Corps Program was created to spearhead this effort to harness the power of every individual through education, training and volunteer service. Through this effort it is envisioned that we can make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared to respond to threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues and disasters of all kinds. CERT was selected as one of the primary training initiatives to be offered to the American public to meet this challenge.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), using the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department, began promoting nationwide use of the CERT concept in 1994. Since then CERT’s have been established in hundreds of communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico. CERT training is a very recent phenomenon in Illinois. As of January 2006 there were over 80 Citizen Corps Councils with approximately 50 communities offering the CERT training in the state.

CERT training promotes a partnering effort between emergency services and the people they serve. The goal is for emergency personnel to train members of neighborhoods, community organizations, or workplaces in basic response skills. CERT members are then integrated into the emergency response capability for their area.

If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the community’s professional response, CERT members can assist others by applying the basic response and organizational skills that they have learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster until help arrives. CERT skills also apply to daily emergencies.

CERT members maintain and refine their skills by participating in exercises and activities. They can attend supplemental training opportunities offered by the sponsoring agency and others that further their skill base. Finally, CERT members can volunteer for projects that improve community emergency preparedness.

About us

In the event of an emergency CERT trained persons along with PMRC serve as Second Responders to the Police and Fire Department.

Palatine schedules CERT training classes at various times throughout the year. Please see the calendar on this web-site for the next scheduled classes. Most training sessions are conducted at 200 E. Wood St. (Village Hall Building) in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) located in the lower level on the west end of the building.

Instruction includes lecture, table top exercises, and practical hands-on involvement including the use of fire extinguishers, and splinting as well as bandaging of victims with injuries.

Should you have any questions, or wish to register for the classes, you can contact Tom Smith at (847) 359-9056 e-mail at tsmith@palatine.il.us NOTE- Pre-registration is mandatory and Palatine residents and those that work or have businesses in Palatine will have priority in placement in the classes. Special classes within the village can be arranged for groups of 12-18 people
CERT training is organized, so that in an emergency, you are trained to protect your family, yourself, and your neighbors. Following that you assume the status as a Second Responder. Palatine's Citizen Corps Council recognized the benefit of CERT Training when the train-the-trainer class was first offered in April of 2003. Palatine sent three instructors to the initial training and now has eight trained volunteers capable of providing this instruction,

As of September 30, 2006 Palatine has conducted 25 classes with over 306 citizens trained. Plans are being developed to utilize these trained individuals in the event of a disaster. Palatine CERT members have responded to Utica, IL in April of 2004 to assist in debris removal and to Florida and Georgia to assist the victims of the rash of September 2004 hurricanes that wreaked havoc in the South and to Mississippi, Florida and Texas for Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita in 2006. Additionally, CERT trained volunteers have helped out at Palatine's Street Fest, 4th of July events, community races, and in other non disaster situations.

If you feel the need to be prepared to help your family, yourself, your neighbors and your village proceed to the Points of Contact section of this web-site.

History of the Palatine CERT

Palatine’s Citizen Corps Council recognized the benefit of CERT Training when the train-the-trainer class was first offered in April of 2003. Palatine sent two instructors to the initial training and now has eight trained volunteers capable of providing this instruction.

To date Palatine has conducted 20 classes with over 230 citizens trained. Plans are being developed to utilize these trained individuals in the event of a disaster. Palatine CERT members have responded to Utica, IL in April of 2004 to assist in debris removal and to Florida and Georgia to assist the victims of the rash of September 2004 hurricanes that wreaked havoc in the South and to Mississippi, Florida and Texas for Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita in 2006. Additionally, CERT trained volunteers have helped out at Palatine’s Street Fest and in other non disaster situations.

 

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