Clay County, WV CERT

Clay County Community Emergency Response Team (Clay County CERT) is a program of the Clay County Volunteer Fire Department. We are part of the national Citizen Corps effort to incorporate and utilize volunteers in the community. Citizen Corps is endorsed by the President and the Department of Homeland Security. Clay County CERT trains volunteers in basic response techniques in order to assist local citizens and first responders in disaster or emergency situations. 

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. While people will respond to others in need without the training, one goal of the CERT program is to help them do so effectively and efficiently without placing themselves in unnecessary danger. In the CERT training, citizens learn to: manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three medical killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective; and collect disaster intelligence to support first responder efforts.

Clay County, WV CERT's mission is doing the greatest good for the greatest number in Clay County, WV - before, during, and after a disaster. Our mission is accomplished by providing a whole community effort to plan, prepare, respond, recover, and mitigate disasters while easing the associated impacts on area residents and first responders. Clay County, WV CERT utilizes and serves a diverse and inclusive group of partners, volunteers, and leaders while ensuring service across all sectors of our community. Approaching disasters in a way that calls for the support of volunteers, Clay County, WV CERT strives to leave a lasting impact on the past, present, and future of disaster coordination in the communities we serve.