FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – The first 2022 Teen CERT Academy hosted by the Cape Fear Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Fayetteville Fire Department graduated June 17 after completing training.
The 17 members were honored during a ceremony held at Fayetteville Fire Department Station 14 on Langdon Street. Commissioner Charles Evans and Fayetteville Councilwoman Yvonne Kinston spoke at the graduation.
The Teen CERT Academy is five days. Training includes disaster preparedness, CERT unit organization, medical operations, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, teen bullying awareness, gang awareness and interaction with law enforcement.
Teen CERT Academy training was provided by Cumberland County Emergency Services, Cape Fear CERT, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Fayetteville Police, Fayetteville Fire Department, Cape Fear Valley Medical Center and Alliance Health.
"We appreciate Cape Fear CERT’s and the numerous public safety agencies wiliness to engage with teens in our community to teach them invaluable lessons that will last a lifetime,” said Cumberland County Emergency Management Coordinator Garry Crumpler.
A CERT is a team of volunteers trained to respond to a community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a major disaster when first responders are overwhelmed by calls for service, or widespread flooding or other interruption of roads makes emergency response difficult.
CERT training includes basic disaster response skills such as light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Volunteers also educate people about disaster preparedness, depression/bullying, gang awareness and more. Cape Fear CERT, formed in 2019 when Hope Mills CERT and other community groups merged. Cape Fear CERT is sponsored by the Cumberland County Emergency Services Department.
To join a CERT or learn more about the Teen CERT Academy, contact Melode Dickerson at capefearcert@gmail.com.