CERTprocedPROPOSED PROCEDURAL POINTS FOR A CITY OF OTSEGO CITIZENS EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM (CERT)
OBJECTIVE / DESCRIPTION
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a group of citizen volunteers who are
trained in disaster preparedness for large-scale disaster incidents that may impact their
community, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical
operations.
In addition, the CERT Team would also participate in Community preparedness communications
in the form of information booths, websites and public speaking. The Team would also assist
our Fire Departments at major fires with relief assistance (managing stations where firefighters
take breaks).
The CERT Team would also be available for any other tasks that city government would find
appropriate.
SECTION 1: AUTHORIZED STRENGTH
A. The initial authorized strength of the Team will be 15 members, with the goal of
maintaining at least 10 members.
SECTION 2: SELECTION CRITERIA
A. Members will be selected from the community that live or work no longer than 30
minutes from city hall. They need not be residents of Otsego
B. Members will be interviewed by the Public Safety Commission, and will be selected as to
their understanding of what CERT is . Only those that have a genuine interest in public
service will be selected. Background investigations will be conducted on potential
members.
SECTION 3: SEPERATION
A. Members will be separated when they fail to maintain training.
(JASON – DID WE WANT TO INCLUDE OTHER THINGS – SUCH AS A CRIMINAL CONVICTION?)
SECTION 4: RECRUITMENT
A. Potential new members will be recruited through the city newsletter, website and local
Media.
SECTION 5: TABLE OF ORGANIZATION
A. The City Emergency Manager will be the director of the Team.
B. The Emergency Manager will appoint a member of the Albertville Fire Department to
oversee operations.
C. The Team Captain will be appointed by the Emergency Manager. The Team Captain will
conduct meetings and coordinate training.
D. The Team Captain will appoint a recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall
maintain meeting minutes and personnel records, consisting of name, contact
information and training records.
SECTION 6: ACTIVATION PROCEDURE
A. Emergency activation of the Team will be authorized by: the Wright County Sheriff’s
Patrol Supervisor, the Albertville Fire Chief, the Elk River Fire Chief, Rogers Fire Chief,
and the Wright County Emergency Manager.
B. If a mutual aid request asking the Team to leave the service area is made, approval will
be required by the Mayor or the Emergency Manager. (JASON _ I’M LEAVING THIS IN
UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT WE WORK OUT THE MUTUAL AID PACT)
MEETINGS
A. Meetings will be initially conducted quarterly, to include training.
B. The Team Captain will conduct the meetings using Roberts Rules of Order.
C. The meetings will be open to the public.
D. Minutes of the meetings will be forwarded to the City Clerk within 5 days.