Community Emergency Response Team
FEMA Certified Community Volunteers Serving During Emergencies
Our Mission
The Putnam County CERT Mission
Is to be deployable, certified, trained and experienced in multiple emergency response disciplines, support and assist Putnam County EMA affiliates and agencies in emergency situations for the purpose of preserving life and property, utilizing NIMS by and through PC CERT's leadership, on behalf of The Putnam County EMA.
CERT was conceived by FEMA, is constituted by DHS and administered by Putnam County EMA. CERT was founded in 2011 by concerned residents of Putnam County. CERT nationally has grown from a specific focus into a broad array of supporting services supporting local Emergency Service First Responding Agencies.
Help us make a difference in Putnam County by supporting PCCERT through these four easy ways:
Fast Facts
Alzheimer’s Disease
- Progressive, destroys short-term memory
- 5.8 Americans live with Alzheimer’s
- Youngest diagnoses: 26 years-old
- Diagnosed in 50% of those over 85
- 59% will develop a propensity to wander
- Within 24 hours, 61% of those will become injured or die
Autism Spectrum Disorder
- 1 in 59 children are born with autism
- Absence of fear, lack of danger recognition, inability to understand consequences
- Hypersensitivity to lights, sound or touch
- Many are drawn to water - without an understanding of drowning
- 93% of wandering deaths are caused of drowning
PROJECT LIFESAVER INTERNATIONAL
Established in 1999 by the Chesapeake County Sherriff’s Office in Virginia to develop a comprehensive program to enhance the success of locating missing persons with Dementia and Alzheimer’s. It has since grown to include those with Autism, Down syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, and any other cognitive condition that includes a propensity to wander.
PUTNAM COUNTY COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM – PC CERT
PC CERT is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, all-volunteer organization with over 40 Active members trained and certified in a variety of emergency disciplines including: Search and Rescue, Fire and Hazmat, Damage Assessment, Sheltering, Public Health, Public Safety, Traffic Control, and Medical. 7 members have state certification in Fundamentals of Search and Rescue (FUNSAR), and 13 members are Tier 1 Search & Rescue responders. All members are required to pass background checks to ensure the safety of those we serve.
BY THE NUMBERS!
• STANDARD SEARCH & RESCUE COST:
9 hours x $1500/hr = $13,500
• PROJECT LIFESAVER SEARCH & RESCUE COST:
1 hour x $1500/hr = $1500
• PUTNAM COUNTY CERT PROJECT LIFESAVER COSTS:
Since PC CERT Project Lifesaver is a not-for- profit volunteer agency, all costs associated with this program are covered through grants, corporate partnerships and sponsorships,
donations, and fundraising efforts. This means that we provide this service to those who need it free of charge.
-Transmitter
- $450 (including PC CERT – PLI Battery changes every 60 days)
-Receiver - $1200 each (used by the search team to locate the transmitter frequency)
PROJECT LIFESAVER SEARCH & RESCUE SUCCESS RATE: 95%

Bringing Loved Ones Home
CERT Volunteers aim to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people
ICPD- Individual and Community and Community Preparedness Division
The National Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program trains volunteers to prepare for the types of disasters that their community may face. Through hands-on practice and realistic exercises, CERT Volunteers:
- Learn how to safely respond to man-made and natural hazards;
- Help organize basic disaster response; and
- Promote preparedness within their communities.
Responding to Emergencies
Since 1986, more than
600,000
individuals have completed CERT Training

Specialized Cert Programs
• Campus
• CERT Teen
• CERT Workplace
Members Learn
• Light Search and Rescue
• Disaster Medical Operations
• Fire Safety and Utility
• Leadership in disasters
• Traffic and crowd management
No. of CERTs
- 1-25
- 26-50
- 51-100
- 101-200
- 201-350
