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Citizen Corps
The mission of Citizen Corps is to harness the power of every individual through education, training, and volunteer service to make communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to the threats of terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters of all kinds. The Citizen Corps consists of three support groups:
Note from the Public Safety Director:
The Burlington County Citizen Corps program is a growing cadre of volunteers made up of residents of Burlington County who have come together for a common goal of being educated and prepared for when disaster strikes.
Burlington County Citizen Corps looks forward to having you as a member of a county-wide group of volunteers.
- Gary Gubbei, Director of Public Safety
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM (C.E.R.T)
What do CERT Volunteers Do?
During his 2002 State of the Union address, President Bush asked Americans to volunteer their services in order to improve and safeguard their country. Harnessing the spirit of cooperation that developed as a result of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, he created the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as a part of the Citizen Corps Program.
CERT members give critical support to first responders in emergencies, provide immediate assistance to victims, organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site, and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.
Becoming a CERT Member:
If you join a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), you will receive basic-level training in the following areas:
- Basic Emergency Management
- Basic First Aid
- CERT Operations
- Disaster Fire Suppression
- Disaster Mental Health
- Disaster Simulation
- Skills Review
- Family Disaster Preparedness
- Medical Operations
Training Length:
The total training is usually 18 hours, scheduled in 2-4 hour modules, over a period of weeks or months, in order to address the scheduling needs of team members. It is held in the community where you live. Training courses, student materials, and equipment are provided free of charge.
How YOU can help?
For more information, or to express interest in becoming a CERT volunteer, please email the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management.
View the CERT PROGRAM BROCHURE (PDF)
Related Links
Burlington County Animal Response Team
What do CART Volunteers Do?
Burlington County CART is a group of volunteers and other entities, such as government and private sector agencies, with resources and personnel that respond to animal issues in disasters. CART provides professional preparedness response and recovery, resources and community education to ensure the health and welfare of animals before, during and after a disaster.
How YOU can help?
For more information, or to express interest in becoming a CART volunteer, please email the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management.
BURLINGTON COUNTY MEDICAL RESERVE CORPS (MRC)
The mission of the Burlington County Medical Reserve Corps (BCMRC) is to improve the health and safety of communities by organizing and utilizing public health, medical and other volunteers. One aspect of the BCMRC is to enhance the County’s emergency preparedness by ensuring that a trained group of healthcare professionals and community volunteers are ready to respond to public health emergencies.
For more information please visit the Medical Reserve Corps page.