Interested in helping the community by learning about basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations? The county’s Maui Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is looking for community volunteers to join the Community Emergency Response Team, known as CERT.

After training, CERT volunteers will be able to help people in their neighborhoods or workplaces during an emergency when professional responders are not immediately available.

The next training session is slated for June in Wailuku. Interested volunteers should contact MEMA as soon as possible to receive support with details and time lines.

“The CERT program is a critical component to our emergency response network,” said Herman Andaya, MEMA administrator. “In an emergency, CERT volunteers who are already embedded in our communities augment first responders who can then focus on more complex tasks.”

Also, CERT volunteers are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects and efforts to promote resiliency in their communities.

CERT Basic Training consists of a 12-hour online, self-paced curriculum and an 18-hour in-person skills assessment and field exercise.

The next in-person skills assessment and field exercise dates are Skills Assessment from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 3, and Skills Assessment and Field Exercise from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, June 10. Both the skills assessment and field exercise will be held at MEMA, Kalana O Maui Building first floor, 200 S. High St., Wailuku.

Other training will be planned for areas throughout Maui County, including Molokai, Lanai and Hāna.

MEMA sponsors and administers this national program designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Maui Fire Department provides training for CERT volunteers.

For more information on volunteering, training and registration, visit www.mauicounty.gov/cert. Email questions to [email protected].