CERT - Community Emergency Response Team

CERT is a volunteer organization that serves the town in times of disaster, community emergencies and town-wide events such as the annual Main Street holiday lighting, the Fourth of July fireworks and the Ridgefield Triathlon. CERTs have supported the Office of Emergency Management during many major storms, hurricanes as well as during the pandemic.

Throughout the COVID crises, CERTs ran the operations side of the vaccination clinic in support of RVNAhealth; delivered PPE so businesses could reopen; provided test kits to residents and businesses when none were available so that people could return to work, school, and activities; operated the Ridgefield Responds

Rental Assistance Program; and provided daily pandemic updates. CERTs provide storm preparedness information, support the town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), operate a phone information center, collect information and provide accurate and timely updates to the community—and that’s just a few of the many ways CERTs support their community. Many CERTs become trained as a support for their family and neighbors.

The Ridgefield CERT team is trained to the standards established by the Citizen Corps program put forward by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program includes 20 hours of training. If you are interested in learning more about how CERT can help you be better prepared, please contact: [email protected].

GET INVOLVED! 
Ridgefield’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will offer a four-part course for future CERTs on April 1, 3, 8, and 10 from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Emergency Operations Center (at Yanity Gym). SUPER SATURDAY, a comprehensive hands-on training, will be held on Saturday, April 26.

To sign up (Cert Class April 2025) or for more information: [email protected]. Classes will be held on a first come basis and will be capped at twenty-five.

CERT training prepares individuals to help family and neighbors during a crises. For those wishing to be more involved, it is a volunteer organization that serves the town in times of disaster, community emergencies and town-wide events such as the annual Main Street holiday lighting, the Fourth of July fireworks and the Ridgefield Triathlon. CERTs have supported the Office of Emergency Management during many major storms, hurricanes as well as during the pandemic. Throughout the COVID crises, CERTs ran the operations side of the vaccination clinic in support of RVNAhealth; delivered masks and thermometers so businesses could reopen; provided test kits to residents and businesses when none were available so that people could return to work, school, and activities; operated the Ridgefield Responds Rental Assistance Program; and provided daily pandemic updates. CERTs provide storm preparedness information, support the town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), operate a phone information center, collect information and provide accurate and timely updates to the community—and that’s just a few of the many ways CERTs support their community.

The Ridgefield CERT team is trained to the standards established by the Citizen Corps program put forward by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program includes 20 hours of training. If you are interested in learning more about how CERT can help you be better prepared, please contact: [email protected].

Emergency Preparedness

Emergency Preparedness starts in the home: 

• Click HERE for a printable tri-fold with Emergency Preparedness information for you and your family. Print it out and keep it nearby for easy access.
• Click HERE for the FEMA brochure: "Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now."
• Click HERE for the Ridgefield Emergency Preparedness Sheet
• Click HERE for printable Prepare Your Pets for Disaster information
• For more Information call 1-800-BE-READY

In the event of a public health emergency, Ridgefield’s Health Department will inform residents of necessary steps to stay healthy and safe. Coordinated by the Health Department and public health staff with support from the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association

• Fully equipped with the supplies necessary to operate the clinic
• Mobile Communication and a Health Alert Network System provide ability to communicate with partner response agencies
• Educational material about the health emergency at hand will be provided

Volunteers are always needed. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, mental health workers and non-medical volunteers are welcomed. To become a volunteer, contact the Health Department at (203) 431-2745.
Read the information below and click on the links to the Ready America website. This information will help you make informed decisions in the event of a threat or disaster.

GET A KIT 

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• First Aid Kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust Mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

MAKE A PLAN

• Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
• Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
• Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
• Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site.

BE INFORMED

• Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.
• However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.
• In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as "Tornado Alley." For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

Are You Storm Ready

The Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) recommend that everyone make a solid preparedness plan for your people, your pets and your property. This includes knowing where you will get accurate and timely information, replacement of supplies depleted during the pandemic and making a plan to be self-sufficient by sheltering in place for at least the five to ten days. The time to be storm ready is NOW, before bad weather arrives. Here are some suggestions:

• Sign up for Ridgefield Alerts. This is where you will receive updated information from your First Selectperson and the Office of Emergency Management. There is an opt in segment where you can sign up for other town related news such as road closures.
• Make a family plan where to meet if separated and have an out-of-town contact person who can monitor town updates and provide you with information if your services are down.
• Have on hand one gallon of water per day per person for a week. Have non-perishables to prepare food at ready for a week and a manual can opener to use if power is lost.
• Refill all RX medications ahead of a storm. Update first aid supplies and over the counter medications.
• Fill automobile gas tanks and gas cans for generators ahead of a storm. Check your supply of propane. Have generators inspected and when in using portable generators keep them away from buildings and windows and doorways. Follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
• Make copies of important documents including your vaccination records for both family members and pets. Have cash on hand and buy ice if needed.
• Make sure pets have food and fresh water for a week.
• Have extra batteries for portable radios and lanterns.
• Before a storm, charge all electronics. Consider the purchase of an external back up battery for cell phones and computers.
• Assess potential hazards outside around your home. (Tree branches, furniture, etc.)
• INCLUDE IN YOUR GO BAG IF EVACUATION IS NECESSARY:
  • A hard copy and/or digital phone record of important documents: License, insurance, prescriptions, current pet rabies certificate, passport, deeds, etc. Have important phone numbers and passwords readily accessible.
  • Include toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, and extra masks.
  • Pet supplies: Current rabies certificate, leash, water, crate, pet food and feeding dishes.
  • Current medications.
  • Include snacks, drinks, paper and pen, cards, puzzles or games for children.
  • Don’t forget to bring a cell phone charger, flashlight, pillow, sleeping bag and blanket.
  • Check with your local shelter for requirements.
• FOLLOW: The Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management page and the Town of Ridgefield Page on FACEBOOK. Sign up for the Town Newsletter.
• Monitor local radio: 850 AM-WREF, 800AM-WLAD, 880AM-WCBS, 98.3FM-WDAQ, 95.1FM-WRKI
• Call Eversource to report power outages: (800) 286-2000 

The Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security is working hard to strengthen our Nation's security. Whenever possible, we want to stop terrorist attacks before they happen. All Americans should begin a process of learning about potential threats so we are better prepared to react during an attack. While there is no way to predict what will happen, or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare yourself and your loved ones.

• Homeland Security
• Office of Emergency Management
• Department of Public Safety
• Ready Brochure (.pdf)

Current Terror Alert Status:      

Homeland Security Advisory:

Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
25 Sigourney Street – 6th FL 
Hartford, CT 06106-5042
(860) 256-0800 or (800) 397-8876
Website