Town Crier Articles

JCC CERT Academy
Posted on February 1, 2026 6:45 AM by NTRA Emergency Preparedness Committee
Submitted by Jack Espinal.
 
James City County (JCC) in conjunction with the City of Williamsburg will offer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training during the month of March 2026. This training and all associated CERT materials/equipment is provided to participants at no charge.  You are invited to participate. Why should you attend?
 
The answer is simple: You can't predict future emergencies, but you can prepare for them! 
 
The CERT program educates citizens about emergency preparedness and trains them in basic emergency response skills that can be used at home, in the community, at work or anyplace an emergency may occur. It prepares you to help yourself, your family, and your neighbors deal with emergencies that can and will happen in Williamsburg.  
 
Trained CERT members:
  • Promote emergency preparedness
  • Provide immediate assistance to victims until emergency first responders arrive
  • Give critical support to first responders when they do arrive
  • Provide help in the immediate period follow an emergency
This program enables individuals to help their families, neighbors and colleagues prepare for, respond to and recover within their neighborhood and our community.  When you complete the CERT training course you will be able to:
  • Safely turn off the gas to your home
  • Safely turn off the power to your home
  • Administer basic and advanced first aid
  • Take action and survive an active shooter situation
  • Have provisions for living outside your home for a length of time if its structure is compromised or you must evacuate
  • Have enough supplies, including water, to sustain your family and pets for up to three weeks in a major event
  • Have enough of the right supplies to survive at your workplace or in your automobile, if needed
The CERT Academy curriculum consists of the following topics:
 
Session one: Disaster Preparedness  
Session two: CERT Organization                  
Session three: Search and Rescue Operations                                     
Session four: Medical Operation I                                           
Session five: Medical Operation II                                           
Session six: Skills Review
Session seven: Fire Safety                               
Session eight: Terrorism & Disaster Psychology     
Session nine: Exercise: Disaster Simulation
 
In addition to knowledge, course graduates receive the following items at no charge:
  • CERT backpack
  • CERT Safety vest
  • CERT Helmit
  • Emergency kit
  • Natural gas shutoff tool
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
They also qualify for an opportunity for future Advanced CERT Training.
 
CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens may initially be on their own and their actions can make a difference. When you complete the CERT program you will be able to:
  • Prepare yourself, your family, your pets, and your home for emergency situations
  • Develop basic emergency plans for your home, workplace, automobile
  • Manage home utilities and suppress small fires
  • Recognize and minimize hazards in your home
  • Treat life-threatening conditions
  • Provide basic mass-casualty first aid
  • Search for and rescue survivors safely
  • Organize as a neighborhood team to prepare for and respond to disasters
  • Help yourself, family, and/or neighbors before first responders arrive
How do I join?
 
CERT is an all-abilities program. Anyone age 18 or over can become a member. The training is offered at no charge.  Registration is easy, just navigate to the following link and complete the registration form: https://www.cognitoforms.com/JamesCityCountyVirginia/CERTBasicTrainingRegistration
 
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