Cumberland County Emergency Services and the City of Fayetteville Emergency Management Department jointly announce the formation of the Cape Fear Community Emergency Response Team. The existing Hope Mills CERT and other community groups from across the county merged to form this new team.
A CERT is made up of volunteers trained to respond to a community’s immediate needs in the aftermath of a disaster. Cape Fear CERT is sponsored by the County’s Emergency Services Department and is governed by a board of directors. There are 85 CERTs in 47 counties in North Carolina.
“The additional assistance provided during a disaster by CERT and other volunteer groups is essential to creating a resilient community,” said Cumberland County Emergency Services Director Gene Booth. “The Cape Fear CERT will be engaged in the community preparing citizens to become better informed and trained before disasters strike.”
Samantha Royster, CERT Program Manager for North Carolina Emergency Management, praised the volunteers who make up the local CERT.
“This is a testament to the dedication of the men and women who want to help your community in times of disaster. These members are living in your communities, and they are the first responders providing help due to a disaster within your community before professional emergency responders arrive on site. With strong support from Cumberland County Emergency Services and the City of Fayetteville Emergency Management, the Cape Fear CERT will be a force multiplier in this community for years to come,” Royster said.
Locally, the Hope Mills CERT helped open shelters in Cumberland and Hoke counties for families fleeing dangerous winds and floodwaters during Hurricane Florence last year.
For more information on the Cape Fear CERT, visit capefearcert.com or email capefearcert@gmail.com. The group will meet Tuesday, Sept. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fayetteville Fire Station 12 located at 911 Hope Mills Rd. The CERT is available to give presentations to community groups.
See a video about Cape Fear CERT at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEHF0p0rw8Q.
For more information about Cumberland County Emergency Services, go to co.cumberland.nc.us/emergency-services. For more information about Fayetteville Fire/Emergency Management, go to fayettevillenc.gov/government/city-departments/fire-emergency-management.