Harris County Citizen Corps Hosts 17th Annual CERT Rodeo
Harris County Citizen Corps will hold its 2024 CERT Rodeo on Saturday, February 17, 2024, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Harris County Fire & Sheriff’s Training Academy, 2318 Atascocita Road in Humble.
Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs) from around the state will test their skills in medical operations, search and rescue, fire suppression, incident command, and hazmat recognition. Every year, more than 300 participants and volunteers contribute to the success of this event.
In 2023, CERT hit a significant milestone and grew to more than 50,000 trained volunteers. Throughout the year, CERT volunteers assisted with community events, drills, and exercises with first responders and emergency managers.
“By empowering our community with life-saving skills to help each other during a disaster, we will be better prepared” said Harris County Citizen Corps Director Mark Sloan. “Trained CERT individuals play a vital role in keeping our communities safe.”
Since Tropical Storm Allison, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike, the people of Harris County have acted with courage, compassion, and unity. To capture the spirit of service we have encouraged residents to dedicate at least two years of their lives—the equivalent of 4,000 hours—in service to others. The Harris County Citizen Corps Council coordinates with volunteer groups such as the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the United Way, and Citizen Corps programs to identify volunteer opportunities. The Citizen Corps programs include the Community Emergency Response Team, the Neighborhood Watch Program, Volunteers in Police Service, Fire Corps and the Medical Reserve Corps.
Harris County Citizen Corps (HCCC) is committed to creating opportunities for people to volunteer to help our community prepare for and respond to emergencies. The primary goal is to have all citizens participate in making neighborhoods safer by providing them the tools and training needed for preventing and handling threats of terrorism, crime, and disasters of all kinds.
To participate in CERT, individuals must complete an extensive eight-week course, taught by first responders, to improve their proficiency in emergency preparedness basics that can be used in their homes, workplaces, and communities.For information about Harris County Citizen Corps go to www.harriscountycitizencorps.com. News and updates are also available on Facebook @HarrisCountyCitizensCorps.
