Vashon’s CERT volunteer members work together with Vashon Island Fire and Rescue and King County Sheriff’s Department to free up critical professional resources during emergencies by providing additional eyes and ears for critical assessment, and other mission critical tasks.

To provide this support, CERT trains its members in basic disaster response skills such as team organization, disaster medical triage, fire safety, and light search and rescue. Before, during, and after disasters, CERT volunteer teams perform basic response activities, including critical infrastructure assessment, support to NERO’s, public information, situational awareness support, and logistical and operational support to other organizations that have a public interface. The ability for CERT volunteers to perform these activities frees up professional responders to focus their efforts on more complex, essential, and critical tasks.