When Disaster Strikes West Hartford, These Volunteers Are Ready

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Two dozen volunteers from West Hartford recently graduated from a training exercise to prepare them to aid the community should a disaster strike.

On Sunday, Nov. 16, the West Hartford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) graduated another 24 residents from its latest basic training program.

In addition to West Hartford, CERT teams from North Granby, East Windsor, and Southington also participated, helping to strengthen regional relationships that can be used during disasters.

The course, spanning more than 20 hours, provided participants with vital emergency preparedness skills in areas such as disaster preparedness, emergency first aid, CERT organization, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, terrorism awareness, fire safety, and sheltering operations.

During hands-on training, participants participated in practical exercises — extinguishing live fires, conducting search-and-rescue drills, and practicing emergency medical care.

Additionally, the town received a $1,600 grant from the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), administered through the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), for training equipment and supplies for the course.

The CERT program is a volunteer program administered by the West Hartford Office of Emergency Management under the direction of West Hartford Fire Chief Greg Priest, also the emergency management director.

It empowers residents to assist their families, neighbors, and the broader community during emergencies when first responders may be delayed.

CERT volunteers also support town-wide events and emergencies, helping to ease the burden on professional responders.

Since its inception in Spring 2021, the West Hartford CERT program has trained more than 350 residents and contributed more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service to the community.

The team meets monthly at the Elmwood Community Center to maintain their skills and readiness.

The next CERT training class is scheduled for Spring 2026 and will be held on Wednesday evenings. The training is free and open to all residents aged 18 and older.

For more information about the CERT program, visit https://www.westhartfordct.gov/cert or email OEM@westhartfordct.gov.