Black Mountain launches one of the first Community Emergency Response Teams in Western North Carolina
In the wake of Helene, many communities have recognized the need for resilient, self-supporting emergency response from within their local community.
Funded in part by a new grant from The Community Foundation of Western North Carolina the Black Mountain CERT is accepting membership applications from people who live, work, or worship in Black Mountain and want to be better prepared for emergencies in their home, their neighborhood, and serve their community.
“CERT” stands for Community Emergency Response Team, a concept that originated in the 1990s and has grown to more than 7,000 teams across America.
The concept is simple and vital: volunteers that are prepared for disasters as individuals and for their family; be ready to assist their immediate neighbors nearby; and be trained and equipped to “plug in” to the first responder organizations in the community to aid and assist their efforts in a disaster or emergency.
A clear theme of CERT is to train and practice as a team, to be ready to serve and support neighbors, as well as to work with local first responders with a defined role and a clear scope of responsibility.
“Helene showed us the incredible power of neighbors helping neighbors. Citizens with chainsaws, specific skill sets, UTVs, and big hearts stepped up before our officers could even finish the first wave of rescues,” explained Chief Steve Parker of the Black Mountain Police Department. “Launching CERT means that the same community spirit will come to the next emergency equipped, organized, and ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our first responders from the very first moment.”
CERT groups are always sponsored by a first responder agency. In Black Mountain, the CERT organization is part of, and reports to, the Black Mountain Fire Department. Qualified members can become credentialed volunteers of the fire department – although not firefighters.
Specialities such as medical skills, backcountry search and rescue, communications, and other skills can be incorporated into Black Mountain’s CERT response not only in disasters, but in “every day” emergencies and events such as parades and festivals.
“We are proud to invite community members to take an active role in emergency preparedness," stated Chief John Coffey of the Black Mountain Fire Department. “CERT volunteers are a vital extension of our response efforts, and their training can make a real difference when seconds count.”
As a volunteer corps, the impact on the town’s budget is minimal – the Black Mountain CERT is part of the Black Mountain Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, supported by charitable donations and the grants, such as the grant that was just awarded.
Join the Team
Membership to the Black Mountain CERT team is by application, which can be made at this website: https://qrco.de/bg5E7r.
Candidates need to meet just a few requirements: be over the age of 18, have a valid drivers license, be able to pass a background check, and live, work, or worship in the Black Mountain Fire District (which includes Montreat and Ridgecrest).
If you have questions about your ability to meet requirements, simply get in touch with the team at cert@tobm.org.
Members receive training and equipment, so that they can volunteer in a defined role in emergencies and events in our community. Members are also issued a two-way radio (and the training to use it) so that they can keep their immediate neighborhood informed and in communication with first responders during emergencies and disasters.
Take the CERT Class
The CERT training (NC-317) is available to anyone – all are welcome to take the class, gaining skills and knowledge to be better prepared for disasters and emergencies. Upon successful completion of this (21 hour) class, students receive certification as a CERT volunteer.
The certification earned in the class is a requirement to become a member of Black Mountain’s CERT organization, and the certification can be used to join any CERT team in North Carolina.
You are not required to join a team after you have your certification. The class is free.
Black Mountain’s class will be held at the Black Mountain Fire Department on August 1-3, 2025 (Two hours on Friday evening 8/1/25, and all day Saturday-Sunday 8/2-3/25).
A maximum of 25 students will be allowed in the class, and we expect it to quickly fill. Once the class fills, a waitlist will be available via the same application form.
To register, complete the registration form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScVRi0EwXTQut6U8WwQB5xhTaV6NmbfWCf7_OMsV6ke1xr2jA/viewform
Helpful Links
For more information, contact: cert@tobm.org
Visit the website and apply now: bmvfire.wixsite.com/bmvfire/cert-program
