Register now for January 2026 Black Mountain CERT Training Class (Community Emergency Response Team)
The Town of Black Mountain Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provides training, structure, and accountability for citizen volunteers of the Town of Black Mountain in serving their community during disasters.
Black Mountain CERT Program will again offer the North Carolina Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training Class (NC-317) on two-and-half days over the weekend of January 23-24-25, 2026. Sessions will be held at the Black Mountain Fire Department, in the heart of Black Mountain, NC.
This class was offered this last year in August, 2025. More than 70 people applied to participate, with a maximum class size of 25. We expect the January, 2026 class to be equally popular so be sure to apply promptly to this new opportunity.
The class is free, available to anyone (not just Black Mountain citizens) and is valuable to anyone interested in learning how to be better prepared for disasters and emergencies. Current members or candidates of the Black Mountain CERT Program will be given priority in registration.
Sign Up Here
You can sign up for the January Class using this form. We will notify you by email if your application is accepted.
We also recommend that you join our email list to GET NOTIFIED about future classes, preparation for disasters and emergencies, and updates from Black Mountain CERT.
What Is CERT?
Our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) provides training, structure, and accountability for citizen volunteers of the Town of Black Mountain in serving their community during disasters. The CERT also deploys to non-emergency events and emergency scenes, which provides opportunities for members to serve by collaborating with each other, practicing their skills, and operating within the town’s public safety (Police & Fire) chain of command. Necessarily, members of the CERT are trained, equipped, and prepared to survive disasters in their own home– so CERT membership is by default a form of disaster preparedness for our community. Deployment of the CERT throughout each year is also an opportunity to develop relationships and interoperate with Black Mountain’s police and fire agencies, as well as county EMS and other first responders across the region. Our CERT program adheres to the standards and best practices of CERT as defined by the federal government and the State of North Carolina, and is registered with North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM).
There is a long list of potential duties for CERT members during a disaster, depending upon their skills and experience and the need for additional personnel by police/fire/EMS. These could include:
Road Blocks / Traffic Control
Damage Assessment
Light Search and Rescue
Evacuation notifications on foot/bicycle/vehicle
First Aid / BLS for “walking wounded” to preserve EMS assets for ALS patients
Drone operations
Communications, both within the town and to the outside world (including but not limited to amateur radio operators)
Food/water for first responders
Shelter operations until additional providers arrive (i.e. Red Cross, faith-based organizations), county resources, etc.)
Food/water distribution points for the public
Security and access control to key facilities
Mapping and record-keeping in the EOC, as well as other responsibilities in the EOC
Phone bank staffing
Publishing and distributing information (under the direction of the PIO)
Pet and large animal shelter
Potential Duties include:
Providing information on disaster preparedness and home safety at events such as the Sourwood Festival, Safety Saturdays, and other public venues
Traffic control during parades and events
EMT/First Aid standbys during parades, events, and athletic races
Drone operation in support of public safety
Search and rescue (Wilderness First Responder certification, for example)
Photography/videography of incidents for the benefit of the town, police, and fire
Communications during parades, events, and athletic races (technical capacity as well as Tactical Dispatchers) including but not limited to amateur radio operators
Firefighter rehab
Wildland fire corps (appropriately trained and certified)
Candidates for membership in the Black Mountain CERT Program must meet the minimum requirements, submit an application for membership, and be accepted by the Program. Acceptance is not guaranteed, and membership may be revoked under certain conditions.
Minimum Requirements to Apply include:
Completion of the online application form
Successful clearance of a background check
Have a valid driver's license
Be at least 18 years old
Live, work, or worship within the Black Mountain Fire District (a special service district that is larger than the town limits, includes the communities of Ridgecrest and Montreat)
Sign a waiver and liability release of the Town of Black Mountain
Candidates accepted into the CERT Program become a Regular Member upon:
Completion of the CERT Basic Training Class (21 hours of training, the NC-317 Certification)
Completion of the FEMA IS-315 CERT and the ICS (2 hour independent study course online)
CPR/AED BLS card
Participating in a meeting, event, or training session at least 4 times each year.
The Black Mountain CERT Program provides opportunities for the NC-317 class at least twice a year, and the CPR/AED BLS certification throughout the year. Regular Members that wish to reach Responding Member status must demonstrate:
Completion of the IS-100, IS-200, and IS-700 ICS online classes
Participate in events and training sessions at least 8 times each year
Complete the Black Mountain Communications Training, and demonstrate proficiency of communicating by two-way radio
To apply for the CERT Basic Training Course, CLICK HERE!
Original post: https://www.townofblackmountain.org//CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=602
