What is CERT?
Through a series of interactive and hands-on courses, CERT members learn valuable skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. These skills enable CERT members to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following a disaster when professional responders may not be immediately available to help.
In Santa Rosa County, our CERT program falls under the Santa Rosa County Citizen Corps. It is designed to empower and educate community members to take a more active role in emergency preparedness and response. By joining CERT, you can help build a stronger and more resilient community that is better prepared to handle emergencies of all types. If you’re interested in becoming a CERT member and making a positive difference in your community, we encourage you to learn more and get involved.
Who Is South Santa Rosa CERT?
South Santa Rosa CERT is a group of volunteers based in the Navarre area, and dedicated to preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation of disasters in the surrounding South Santa Rosa County Area. Our members have differing degrees of experience and training in several areas of emergency response. They include people like retired firefighters and paramedics to homemakers to "desk jockeys", male and female, young and old.
South Santa Rosa CERT members assist by using their training to help their families, neighbors and community in times of a disaster. Some volunteer to distribute disaster preparedness information. Others volunteer to assist in various ways at community events, such as 5k races and parades. Many of our members have received training in running a Volunteer Reception Center, which the County may open locally after a major disaster.
Is there a cost?
There are no fees involved to be a member of CERT. Only your time and a desire to help your community is all that is needed. The CERT team in Navarre is a Not-For-Profit Corporation, incorporated in the State of Florida*, and have been granted tax-exempt status by the IRS under section 501(c)(3). As such, donations are gladly accepted year round to help us continue to provide a valuable community service. Please mail donations payable to:
Navarre Community Emergency Response Team
8668 Navarre Parkway #362
Navarre FL 32566
We have monthly meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month (except for November and December). Each meeting is from 6:00 p.m. through no later than 8:00 p.m. at the Holley-Navarre Fire Department Station 45 Training Room. It is located at 8618 Esplanade Street, in Navarre (behind Winn Dixie).