A group of volunteers is being sought to assist current emergency responders in Washington County.

The group is called CERT – Community Emergency Response Team. Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator Marissa Reisen explains how the team will work, “You’ll get activated, we’ll have a whole process for how do we know that we need you. And then we’ll have a check in point, and everybody would get assignments, you know, we don’t want you going straight into the mess. So, it’s an organized response and we’re not trying to replace any responders that we’ve already got, we’re trying to supplement them and assist them in whatever way we can.”

The CERT members will have six training sessions in general preparedness, light search and rescue, small fire suppression, medical operations similar to first aid, psychology and team organization, and then the final session is a disaster simulation. This group is open to anyone 18 years of age or older as anyone willing to help can find a way to do so in the team.

An informational meeting for those who may be interested in joining CERT will be held June 28th at 6:30 p.m. at the Washington Public Library.