The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates people about disaster preparedness for 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.

Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

After the tornado hit Arlington last April, there was an incredible outpouring of people wanting to help and volunteer in the cleanup, recovery and respond to the needs of those families most affected by the disaster.  Afterwards, churches in our community gathered together to see how we could best use each of our resources to respond to a disaster in a cooperative and coordinated effort.  We joined together with the City of Arlington to learn how to best assist our First Responders (Fire & Police) in this endeavor.  From these meetings, The Arlington Faith-Based Disaster Network, was formed to provide volunteers necessary training and credentials that would be recognized and approved by the City of Arlington to provide assistance in a disaster.