Liability: Reducing liability has many facets. As any activity can involve injuries, the campus CERT leadership needs to work with campus legal and risk management departments to develop a sound,  hold harmless liability form for CERT participants that must be maintained and available during both drills and emergency events. Likewise a form is needed for non-CERT volunteers for the CERT drills, such as those who play the role of “victims,” or assist in any way. Signed releases should be completed before a class or drill begins. A pre-exercise briefing of objectives, including safety, should always be conducted. Ensure drill participants wear all safety and protective equipment. Likewise, a post exercise debriefing must be part of the agenda. All CERT instructors should meet safety and training standards. At drills, there should be an assigned safety officer, who can stop the exercise if necessary due to any unsafe act. If activating a CERT team for an emergency event, ensure team members do not participate in activities beyond their training or physical capabilities. Training can actually help reduce liability issues if policies and procedures are followed correctly.

Training: Providing training beyond the initial class and drill is an enormous challenge. A strategic plan should be developed to include sustainment training on a regular basis, including FEMA online trainin
g courses and classroom or practical training.

One item could include an annual CERT Challenge event between teams within or against other jurisdictions. An excellent example of this occurred recently when a college CERT team competed against several county teams, in a State CERT Challenge. The college team, which was comprised of students and staff, achieved second place, missing first place by just four seconds in one of the events.

View our photo gallery on CERT Programs at Institutions of Higher Education

An area with great appeal would be the creation of specialty teams in damage assessment, moulage, communications, emergency operations center, shelters, public outreach, CPR/AED, triage, First Aid and ham radio to name just a few. For qualified personnel, create specialty badges to wear on their CERT vest after completion of training. A way to recognize performance would be to implement a CERT Person of the Quarter/Year Award. CERT team members can be utilized as training coordinators for classes and drills.

Involve CERT members in at least one community event a year. Publish a monthly CERT newsletter, highlighting activities in the organization. Schedule at least one additional refresher drill a year. Arrange for and offer participation in other local area CERT drills. Create a refresher training video. Where possible, send CERT graduates to a CERT train-the trainer course. Organize and conduct an annual CERT symposium for local jurisdictions, providing useful information and training sessions.

Funding: Funding a program can be a challenge, especially considering the decreased amount allocated through Citizen Corps. Still, CERT teams on campus should reach out to local jurisdictions, Urban Areas Suburban Initiative (UASI), if applicable, and the state emergency management agency. Seek corporate, small business and service club donations or sponsorship.

Ask for in-kind donations, such as supplies. Consider fundraisers. Some campus CERT teams have become recognized student government organizations and are qualified for student funds, while others have become separate, but affiliated 501(c)3 nonprofit originations and seek funds from individual, foundations and corporate donors. Finally, don’t forget the obvious – solicit annual funds through the institutional budget process. 

How Auburn, Miami U. & U. of St. Louis Do It

Countless CERT programs on campus could be singled out as best practice examples, but the three listed here highlight programs that meet individual campus missions and needs:

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