Polk County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Polk County Emergency Management Agency is always accepting applications for membership to the Polk County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). We are looking for individuals with various backgrounds who want to serve the community in time of need and make Polk County a safer place. There are a variety of jobs that are available within the team including the following:

• Basic First Aid/Medical Operations;
• Light search and rescue;
• Communications;
• Supply/Logistics;
• Damage Assessment;
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operations;
• Support Incident Command Staff on incidents;
• and many more

Polk County CERT Mission Statement

Polk County CERT members under the sponsorship of Polk County Emergency Management Agency will strive to provide residents and emergency responders a quality resource for safety education, hazard mitigation, emergency response assistance, and other volunteer efforts in order to build and sustain a culture of preparedness.

Members will not be required to take part in all positions though they may choose to if they desire. As the saying goes "There is a job for everyone" this is true within the Polk County CERT Program. Members will be required to go through the CERT Basic Training Course which is 18 hours, as well as receive certification in CPR. Basic Training Courses are scheduled throughout the year.

All CERT members will meet the following requirements to become members of Polk County CERT:

• All members will be a minimum of 18 years old.
• Be of a character that can be trusted under adverse conditions where victims of disaster could be at disadvantage.
• No member will have any felony or misdemeanors of moral turpitude.
• All members will be a resident of Polk County.
• All members will complete the minimum training requirements set forth by Polk EMA.
• Be able to execute competencies taught during basic CERT training either independently or with support of a reliable accompanying assistant.

The Polk County CERT Program is part of the local and national Citizen Corps effort to incorporate and utilize volunteers in the community. Citizen Corps is endorsed by the President and the Department of Homeland Security. Polk County CERT members are trained in basic response techniques in order to assist local citizens and first responders in disaster or emergency situations. 

If you are interested in becoming a member of Polk County CERT please download the application for membership in the column to the right, fill it out and email it to ema@polkga.org or submit it at 55 Clines Ingram Jackson Road, Cedartown, GA. 30125. The application period is always open, and interviews will be scheduled with the applicants after submission. For addition information please contact us at ema@polkga.org or by phone at 770.748.3439