Communities
Community Preparedness
Organizations should also be prepared for emergencies. OPEN, Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs, is preparedness training for community-based organizations. Check out the web-based, self-guided training available through FEMA at Community Based Organizations (fema.gov).
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Get Involved! While we know that preparedness starts with the individual, if you’d like to go a step further for your community, volunteer to be on your Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.
Learn more about the program and find a CERT class near you: Community Emergency Response Team | Ready.gov. You can also learn how to host CERT classes, and the need for different languages is great.
Physical Accessibility of Community Spaces Guide
Assistive Communication Devices Guide
Power Outage Poster
Access and Functional Needs Shelter Guide
Download the Guide
(Standard PDF [PDF, 214 KB] | Printable [PDF, 138 KB] | Large Print [PDF, 137 KB] )
Access and Functional Needs Shelter Guide
Download the Guide
(Standard PDF [PDF, 214 KB] | Printable [PDF, 138 KB] | Large Print [PDF, 137 KB] )