Wilton’s volunteer Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), in conjunction with Wilton Emergency Management, will hold its annual Disaster Preparedness Training Program beginning in February. The organization has opened up registration for any community members interested in learning how to help family, friends and neighbors in the event of an emergency or disaster.

CERT instructors, certified by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), along with instructors from Wilton’s Police Department, Fire Department, Wilton Volunteer Ambulance Corps/EMS, and others will provide the training.

The class is open to all members of the community, age 18 or older, who have an interest in learning more about disaster preparedness. It is not a requirement to be a Wilton resident.

The course is conducted via seven sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting Tuesday, Feb. 11 through Tuesday, March 4, along with a final exercise on Saturday, March 22. Training will cover the following areas in a combination of classroom and practical exercises:

  • Disaster preparedness
  • CERT organization
  • Disaster medical operations
  • Fire safety
  • Terrorism
  • Animals in disasters
  • Disaster psychology
  • Light search and rescue (SAR)
  • Fire extinguisher training, equipment orientation and radio basics

Classes will be a mix of in-person and virtual sessions as follows:

  • Comstock Community Center (180 School Rd.), (in-person): Tuesday, Feb. 11, 13, 18 and 20, all at 7 p.m.
  • Zoom: Tuesday, Feb. 25 and 27, and March 4, all at 7 p.m.
  • Wilton Fire Headquarters and Town Hall Annex, (238 Danbury Rd.): Saturday, March 22

Training material will be provided to all participants. There is no charge for this training.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants 18 or older have the opportunity to volunteer as members of Wilton CERT. Members of Wilton CERT are provided with a backpack containing basic emergency gear. Participants must attend at least six of the eight sessions to qualify for application to Wilton CERT.

Wilton CERT, as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), regularly assists first responders at large emergency incidents or public events. Wilton CERT has performed a broad range of deployment activities, including searches for missing persons, traffic and crowd control, staffing Wilton’s emergency shelter, distributing emergency food and water, and providing mutual aid to neighboring towns.

Interested participants may register on the Wilton CERT website or on the Wilton Continuing Education website. This training is offered only once a year and FEMA strictly limits class sizes. All participants must be registered in advance.

For further information about CERT, visit the Wilton CERT website.