- Auburn University: The Auburn University Campus CERT program, established in 2008, currently has 240 active members in 74 campus buildings with a goal of having a presence in all regularly occupied campus buildings. Team members are responsible for assisting with evacuations and sheltering for assigned areas within their buildings. They are also available to assist with traditional CERT roles (light search and rescue; disaster medical triage and treatment) in the event of a significant emergency or disaster. The program has been embraced by local first responders, who routinely assist with training and help promote its effectiveness. A main key to success is integrating Campus CERT into routine emergency response within the team members’ regular work areas, giving them an opportunity to periodically work together and build their abilities as a team. Contact information for Auburn’s CERT : Chance Corbett at [email protected] or Susan McCallister at [email protected].
- Miami University: In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina made an unexpected visit to the University of Miami (UM). After Katrina passed, a UM student began to shape his vision of a student run emergency response team by modeling it after the national CERT program. With assistance from the Miami-Dade County Office of Emergency Management and the University’s Butler Center for Volunteer Service and Leadership Development, the first Canes Emergency Response Team basic recruit class of 25 students graduated in February of 2006. The team now consists of over 50 student members that are co-advised by UM’s Office of Emergency Management and an essential part of the university’s emergency response plan. Contact Information for Miami’s CERT: Scott Burnotes at [email protected].
- St. Louis University: SLUCERT has proven to be a game changer in the preparedness efforts at our St. Louis University. With the assistance of the city emergency management ggency, local fire departments and mental health experts, all who serve as volunteer trainers, and of course students, faculty and staff, the participation level continues to rise each semester. The level of confidence the CERT members gain through the program enhances the school’s ability to respond to an emergency. In addition to the benefits recognized from having trained students and employees, the program has allowed faculty and staff to really engage with students in a whole new way. Contact for St. Louis’ CERT: Connie Tillman at [email protected].
Campus Emergency Response Teams offer many diverse opportunities to increase the overall readiness on a college campus. Just the ability to collaborate and increase the awareness of emergency preparedness is worth establishing a group on campus. The challenges associated with a CERT can be overcome by working with others on campus and learning from campus teams that have learned through the years. Although CERT on campus adheres to the primary mission of the national program, they can always meet unique needs of individual campus environments.
Andy Altizer, Jason Kraft and Frank Stanley work for the Georgia Tech Office of Emergency Preparedness.
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