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Name of Program: West Haven, Connecticut  CERT
Geographic Area: West Haven, Connecticut
Emeregency Management Director: Scott Schwartz, Deputy Chief
Phone Number: 203-937-3710
Click to eMail: Scott Schwartz, Deputy Chief
Click for the eMail address of the West Haven CERT Team.
Web site address:  http://westhavenct.us/cert

CERT program training packages can be found at: NIMS

The web site below will show all the cities and towns that have a CERT program in place.  All Connecticut CERT's in place.

Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security of Connecticut.
Citizens Corps Advisory Council Information.

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Brief Description:
West Haven Office of Homeland Security launched its first Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T) September 23, 2006 with 32 volunteers.

The theory behind C.E.R.T. is based on a simple observation: in major emergencies, professional emergency services overload instantly. Every area in the world has earthquakes and tornadoes, and the most common disasters are floods and severe storms. Common mass emergencies include flood, hurricane, tsunami or earthquake.

These can all create mass emergencies, and thus C.E.R.T. has a mission everywhere. The most basic goal of the C.E.R.T. program is preparedness. The belief is that a civilian who receives the C.E.R.T. training is more likely to prepare in advance for a major disaster and is aware of the proper steps to take after such a disaster. This reduces the likelihood that they will need assistance from emergency responders and thus relieves pressure on scarce resources such as rescuers and their equipment.

The next goal of the C.E.R.T. program is to provide an auxiliary force of trained emergency workers who can respond to situations that are not life-threatening. This can include anything from shelter management, light search and rescue operations to paperwork and dispatch. These non-urgent or time-consuming tasks would otherwise fall to the area's emergency professionals, diverting them from rescue operations.

The C.E.R.T program was held at the West Haven Police Station at no cost to volunteers and is taught by certified and trained instructors. After successful completion of the course graduating participants received an Award of Excellence, C.E.R.T. ID card, tool kit, and backpack from DEMHS (Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security).

West Haven CERT completes WMD training

Eighteen members of the city’s Community Emergency Response Team celebrate their completion of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Awareness training in the Harriet C. North Community Room at City Hall 2007 Aug. 27.

The newly certified members, in no order, are Cathy Granoth, Robert Granoth, Stephen Hiza, Clifford Hurlburt, Joseph Metcalfe, Nicole Rohde-Iagrossi, Patricia Upton, Gerald A. Calabritto, Cheri Charney, Mark Arminio, John Belinda, Gordon Bergman, Danette Bowlings, Delores Ceritto, Lois Dioro, Dawn Evans, Kathy Calabritto and Agnes Braunig.

Mayor John M. Picard joined city Homeland Security Coordinator Marguerite B. Showers, who taught the course, to present certificates of completion to participants. The course, funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center for Domestic Preparedness, prepares CERT members to respond to potential WMB incidents. The city is the first CERT team in the state certified in the high level of training. (City Photo)

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The newly certified members of Team 2, in alphabetical order, are Bonnie Amato, Chris Belous, Stephen Cochrane, Jim Collins, Michele Davis, Patti Hewston, Sheila Krajeir, Cassanda Marcella, Janet Mosher, Bev Morris, Daryle Pataky, Harold Pollock, Armand Serio, Margery Sodergreen. Also in the photo are Deputy Fire Chief Cliff Burns, and Wayne Sanford Deputy Commissioner of  theDepartment of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Mayor John M. Picard joined city Homeland Security Coordinator Marguerite B. Showers, who taught the course, to present certificates of completion to participants. The course, funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center for Domestic Preparedness, prepares CERT members to respond to potential WMB incidents. The city is the first CERT team in the state certified in the high level of training. (MCollins Photo)

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