Graduation for New York City's Community Emergency Response Teams

January 20, 2006 — OEM congratulates the newest members of New York City's CERT program for completing training to serve their communities in times of emergency. This January, seven teams joined the already-established 22 CERT teams by finishing 25 hours of basic disaster and preparedness response training.

As part of their training, CERT members received hands-on instruction in skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue tactics, and medical operations. The new CERT graduates are now prepared to assist emergency personnel when needed in emergencies affecting their immediate communities. They are also committed to helping their communities better prepare for all types of emergencies.

Graduation ceremonies took place in three boroughs to recognize the CERT groups' achievements. Representatives from the NYPD, FDNY, and NYC OEM were on hand to congratulate the graduates.

The seven groups that graduated include:

• Brooklyn: District 18
• Manhattan: District 3
• Queens: District 1
• Queens: District 7
• Queens: District 8
• Queens: District 11
• Queens: District 14

Brooklyn	Brooklyn CERT team member suppresses a fire as part of his graduation requirement.	Brooklyn District 18 CERT members practice rescuing a victim trapped under debris.
Manhattan/ Queens	New York City's first bi-lingual CERT graduates in Manhattan District 3.	A Queens CERT member performs initial medical examinations on victim.
Queens	Queens CERT members practice light medical examination.	Queens CERT member practices fire suppression as part of graduation final.