Community Emergency Response Team

The City of North Royalton's Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of resident volunteers that would be called upon locally during serious emergency situations to augment the City's public safety capabilities. The group is called upon for special events and crowd control such as the annual North Royalton Community Festival. CERT's goal is to enlist approximately 200 resident volunteers to assist in any disaster, which could strike or impact North Royalton.

The threat of terrorism, of course, was the initial force behind this federally-initiated program. Other emergencies, however, such as natural disasters or plane crashes, etc., would be included. Our North Royalton CERT's planning and preparedness focuses on the community's ability to provide emergency vaccinations or immunizations to all North Royalton residents in a short period of time. In addition to training for inoculation points of distribution, the group also trains for such things as downed wires, suspicious packages, search and rescue operations, chemical plant explosions, evacuations, communication drills.

Volunteers are needed to staff the many duty stations within our City disaster plans. Residents interested in volunteering for service in the North Royalton CERT will be assigned to positions where their experience, training or job skills can be best used.

All persons over 18 years old, with good general health and a willingness to commit themselves, are eligible to apply to the emergency response team. At this time, there is an emphasis on employment or experience in the following areas: Medicine (doctors, nurses, pharmacy, medical records), Construction (skilled trades, hazmat), Transportation (commercial drivers with large vehicle experience), Communications (computers, data entry, foreign languages), Supervision (teachers, security, military) and Food Service. Civic organizations, church groups, clubs or groups of employee's from local business are encouraged to apply as well.

In the event of any kind of widespread disaster, communities will be on their own to survive. Federal, State and County help will not be available with the exception of the provision of vaccines, etc. There is absolutely nothing more important that you can volunteer for or dedicate your time. Contact the Mayor's Office at 440-237-5686 to volunteer. Click here for an application.