Following a major disaster, first responders who provide fire and medical services may not be able to meet the demand for these services. Factors such as number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.
The purpose of CERT training is to provide private citizens with the basic skills that they will need to handle most of their own needs and then to respond to their neighborhoods' and communities' needs in the aftermath of a disaster.
The course fee of $25 per student covers the cost of the PPE (Helmet, gloves, safety glasses, N-95 mask) and course materials.