The Benton County Sheriff’s Office invites residents to its Community Emergency Response Team training March 8-10. The course includes 12 hours of online learning followed by 16 hours in-person instruction.
Registration is open until 5 p.m. Feb. 10 for the course, which includes fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, disaster medical operations and disaster psychology.
The Benton County Community Emergency Response Team program is made of volunteers who train and serve together while building a culture of individual preparedness. Members learn what to do before, during and after an emergency to assist themselves, family, friends and neighborhoods.
Over the years, Benton County CERT volunteers have worked in wildfire evacuation shelters, call centers and pandemic-related deployments serving thousands of residents.
The program welcomes all abilities and provides a safe, positive and inclusive experience for those age 18 and older.
The course is free and volunteering is optional.
For those interested, contact the Benton County CERT program manager at cert@bentoncountyor.gov or 541-766-6050. For more information, see the program’s webpage.