Washington County’s Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, is getting closer to recruiting members. At Friday’s Local Emergency Planning Commission meeting, Larry Smith, Washington and Keokuk Counties Emergency Management Coordinator, provided an update on CERT. He explained the bylaws and plans and procedures documents are being finalized and will soon be approved by the emergency management commission.

Also, the equipment to start the team has arrived and soon they’ll be looking for people to become members of CERT. Members will undergo 20 hours of training, including CPR and First Aid.

In February, the Washington County Emergency Management Commission approved creating a CERT and funded it with $3,250. The team will be a group of trained volunteers who can assist existing emergency personnel with a variety of tasks, from clearing roads and assisting in evacuating people to setting up shelters.