Middletown's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is operated by Midletown Emergency Managment. Our CERT is one of the largest in Monmouth County, with more than 100 active members.

What is CERT?
MIddletown CERT teaches resident how to helps their friends and neighbors during emergencies big and small. Skills taught include basic first aid light search and rescue and preliminary damage assessment. Training is conducted during a free 20-hour training course held by OEM at the Middletown Fire Academy

CERT, which is modeled after a national program, is aimed at enhancing community response to emergencies, especially in the first 12 to 72 hours after a major emergency when first respondrs must focus on the most cirtical situations. For us, CERT has also been invaluable during local emergencies. CERT members have assisted in searches for missing persons and water distribution during utility outages.

CERT Trailer
'Middletown is one of two Monmouth County Towns to receive a mobile trailer outfitted with response equipment from the NJ State Police's Office of Emergency Management. Middletown received the trailer because we are one of the two most active municipal CERT teams in Monmouth County.

From left are CERT members Patricia Sheehan, Middletown Emergency Management Coordinator Charles W. Rogers III, Acting Monmouth County Emergency Management Coordinator Gary McTighe and CERT members Dean Newman and Bob Ernsdorff.

Membership
The 20-hour training class must be completed in order to become a member. However, no monthly meetings are required. CERT members are only called upon as needed. Members are encouraged to attend one drill a year to keep their skills sharp. Call 732-615-2129 for more information.

Links

NJ State Police - CERT Program

FEMA'S CERT Program

Citizen Corps - coordinated nationally by the Department of Homeland Security.