A CERT team, or Community Emergency Response Team, may be in Washington County’s future. Emergency Management Coordinator for Washington and Keokuk Counties Larry Smith explains a CERT is used in response to emergencies, such as tornadoes. He adds this is a volunteer group throughout the county, who is trained to a certain level, but are not part of a fire department or QRS. Some of the tasks the CERT would do include setting up shelters, running shelters during the aftermath and assisting with evacuations.

Richard Young, director of the ambulance service, explains a CERT would assist the ambulance and medical personnel during a disaster by checking homes for people with injuries and helping medics get to urgent matters.

The CERT program will be discussed at Wednesdsay’s Emergency Management Commission meeting. For more information listen to today’s Washington Page.