CERT Communications Team

During CERT training the need for effective communications, both within neighborhoods and between neighborhoods and government officials, becomes readily apparent. If a neighborhood forms search and rescue teams, how do you keep in touch with them? How do the teams request help or report situations which are beyond their capability to handle? Once they get over the shock of learning that their cell phones may not work after disaster strikes, people start to look for other methods of communication.

In response to this need the CERT Communications Team, or CERT Comm, was formed. CERT Comm members are people who have completed CERT training and have chosen to develop additional skills in emergency communications. When disaster strikes, these CERT members will be able to set up communication between the neighborhood's Incident Command Post and city officials, as well as between the Incident Command Post and Search and Rescue teams.

In order to provide training in emergency communications, each of the District Coordinators has appointed a District Radio Officer. The District Radio Officer is responsible for assuring that CERT Comm members in his or her district are ready to respond in case of an emergency.

The CERT Comm Steering Committee assists the District Radio Operators in meeting their responsibilities by organizing training sessions, planning drills, and developing CERT communications procedures. The Steering Committee is comprised of the District Radio Operators, a Coordinator and Assistant Coordinator , the Past Coordinator, and a representative from the local Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

For more information on the organization and activities of CERT Comm, visit the Resources and Activities pages.

Effective January 2006, Fremont ARES and CERT Comm have become one organization with ARES taking the lead and CERT Comm being a specialty group within the organization. The CERT Comm Steering Committee is now part of the ARES core group.