Why join the Anne Arundel – Annapolis Community Emergency Response Team (AAACERT)
You Are The Help Until Help Arrives
During CERT Basic Training classes, you will...
- learn how to keep yourself, your family, and your community safe before, during, and after a disaster.
If you become a member of AAACERT, you will...
- become a trusted and trained community member who can be activated to help in a disaster or emergency situation if first responders are not readily available.
How do CERT members know what to do?
- CERT members receive training and certification in disaster response skills. The AAACERT Basic Training course includes classroom education and hands-on training. Topics covered by this FEMA-approved CERT course include disaster preparedness, first aid, hazardous materials awareness, and damage assessment.
- After completing the CERT Basic Training, members have the opportunity to participate in drills and exercises to enhance their knowledge and keep their skills sharp.
How do I become a member?
- Complete and submit a Waiver of Liability with Anne Arundel County (if already completed during a recent AAACERT CERT Basic class, we have this document on file).
- Complete and submit a completion certificate for a CERT Basic class (if you attended a AAACERT class, we have your certificate on file). OR, you may indicate your intention to complete a AAACERT CERT Basic class in the next 6 months (you will not achieve operational membership (i.e., some activities may be restricted) until you complete CERT Basic).
- Submit a AAACERT application (which includes a skills inventory) – electronically fillable (NOTE: if using Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer, right click and select “Save target as”).
- Submit completion certificates or a FEMA-supplied transcript for Independent Study Classes IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 (showing NIMS compliance).
- Pay a new member fee ($12) and annual dues ($10) – total of $22.
- Once we have the above, you will receive a link to apply for a county-approved background check. The fee for the background check is $19, paid directly to the company providing the check. The background check must come back CLEAR.
Notes:
- You must be a US citizen (born or naturalized) or a legal resident alien with a temporary or long-term (permanent) resident status in good standing.
- Click here for a full copy of AAACERT’s Membership Policy.
- A physical signature is required for the Waiver of Liability.
- Certificates for older versions of the FEMA Independent Study Classes or FEMA-supplied transcripts are acceptable.
- A CERT Basic certificate from another sponsored CERT program is acceptable.
- The Waiver of Liability, Independent Study Certificates, CERT Basic certificate (if from another sponsored CERT program), and AAACERT application should be sent to membership@aaacert.org.
- All forms will open from our document management system. Save the form locally to your computer to begin filling them out.
How do I maintain Operational membership?
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Participate in 20 hours of activities each calendar year (prorated for the first year), of which one half must be associated with active volunteering for AAACERT.
–> Active volunteering includes participation in exercises, incidents, or events or participation as a AAACERT instructor.
–> The other hours may be satisfied by any approved emergency preparedness or response training or AAACERT committee work.
–> The membership chair can use his/her discretion to excuse some or all participation requirements for prolonged illness or disability or if the member is out of the area for a prolonged period of time. - Continue to pay annual dues.
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