{"id":272,"date":"2018-01-12T15:08:19","date_gmt":"2018-01-12T21:08:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=272"},"modified":"2026-01-06T20:33:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T02:33:17","slug":"about-rowlett-cert","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=272","title":{"rendered":"About Rowlett CERT"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-272\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-272-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-272-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-272-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_nav_menu panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-272-0-0-0\" ><div class=\"menu-cert-menu-container\"><ul id=\"menu-cert-menu\" class=\"menu\"><li id=\"menu-item-393\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-393\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=232\">Rowlett CERT<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-396\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-396\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=272\">About Rowlett CERT<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2343\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-has-children menu-item-2343\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=2326\">EastTex CERT<\/a>\n<ul class=\"sub-menu\">\n\t<li id=\"menu-item-2344\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2344\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=2330\">About EastTex Regional CERT<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-496\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-496\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=471\">RCCC CERT Class Information<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-2369\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-2369\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=2362\">Progressive Alert Matrix<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-394\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-394\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=322\">RCCC Master Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n<li id=\"menu-item-395\" class=\"menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-395\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=312\">CERT Resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-272-0-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-272-0-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-272-0-1-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<div id=\"comp-ikdjzvk4\">\n<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial black,sans-serif;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">The City of Rowlett has set the pace for communities across Texas, being one of the first cities in North Central Texas to implement the federal government\u2019s Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) initiative. The program has trained more than 1,000 CERT volunteers and has been recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its excellence and program management.<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"comp-ijoy4mp4\">\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Rowlett Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\">The Rowlett CERT program is well established and integrated into Rowlett\u2019s Emergency Plan.&nbsp; It serves an essential role in disaster preparedness and emergency response in the Rowlett area.&nbsp; Rowlett CERT is also an integral component of significant city events, providing access and traffic control, fire watch, courtesy patrols, communications and information technology services, first aid stations, and public information and education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;\"><strong>Background<\/strong>: Rowlett CERT is co-sponsored by the Rowlett Fire Department and the Rowlett Citizen Corps Council. It was formed in late 2002 in response to the need for citizen involvement in volunteer programs that help make our community safer, stronger, and better prepared for emergencies and disasters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Current State<\/strong>: Rowlett CERT has trained over 1,000 citizens cumulatively in over 100 CERT G317 classes since 2002.&nbsp;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Leadership<\/strong>: The program is led by the CERT Program Manager, who appoints the CERT Leadership Team (CLT). The CLT is composed of a variety of positions related to training, coordination, technology, and membership.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Activation<\/strong>: Responsibility for the deployment of CERT resides with the EOC, Incident Commander, Fire or Police Chief, or Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Rowlett, and is initiated by Police\/Fire Communications.&nbsp; A leadership team of individuals is on the activation list (via text and phone).&nbsp; The on-call leader activates all or part of the CERT group, depending on the nature and extent of the activation.&nbsp; Our members are activated primarily through an automated call-tree service (One Call Now), which can be activated by telephone or via a website text-to-speech system.&nbsp; Using this service, we can quickly and easily notify all of our members in under two minutes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Equipment<\/strong>:&nbsp; All CERT course graduates who remain active in the Rowlett program are issued a basic CERT Kit and program shirts at no cost. &nbsp; The RCCC maintains a 2024 Chevy 3500 HD truck with a KUV service body for towing the primary CERT trailer and heavy equipment trailer.&nbsp; The service body truck carries equipment such as traffic control items, a generator inverter, medical supplies, hand tools, chainsaw kits, and lighting.&nbsp; In 2012, with FY10 grant funds, the RCCC placed in service a 6x10 trailer to be used as a secondary response trailer.&nbsp; From lessons learned during the December 2015 tornado, the trailer has been converted into a heavy equipment trailer that can navigate congested access ways.&nbsp; The trailer is equipped with two chainsaw kits, heavy hand tools, log rollers, brushfire hand tools and sprayers, cribbing kits and levers, and utility control tools.&nbsp; Additionally, CERT continues to maintain the primary CERT support trailer, which not only contains enough resources to respond to and equip a significant incident but also includes Wi-Fi capability, a desktop computer, a printer, a digital TV, weather monitoring equipment, amateur and VHF communications, and a command module.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Training<\/strong>: Rowlett CERT teaches two G317 classes each year, using volunteer instructors and subject-matter experts.&nbsp; Additional courses are supported through our partner program, EastTex CERT.&nbsp; In addition to the CERT G317 course, members are encouraged to take further training, including Search and Rescue Basics, Wide Area Search, Communications, Disaster Damage Assessment, SkyWarn, and First Aid and CPR.&nbsp; Annually, we conduct two scenario-based drills and two skills-oriented drills.&nbsp; Monthly meetings are also held, during which a short training topic is presented, focusing on topics that reinforce the basic G-317 curriculum.&nbsp; Online training through the Emergency Management Institute and other sources is available for those who want additional training.&nbsp; We require our members to complete IS-315 ICS for CERT and encourage them to complete IS-700 NIMS and IS-800 NRP courses online.&nbsp; Internally, G317 courses are offered twice a year, each completed in two ten-hour days.&nbsp; Rowlett CERT also conducts out-of-City G-317 classes upon request from other municipalities or Citizens Corps Councils.&nbsp; The accelerated course format is the choice for our program. Each graduate also receives a certificate and a brochure listing resources and links to FEMA sites, training, and useful apps.&nbsp; Students who wish to join our program complete a Waiver of Liability, a Driver\u2019s License &amp; Background Check, and a CERT Profile form, and attend an orientation session at a later date.&nbsp; The orientation session introduces members to radio operations, suspicious persons\/packages, call-out procedures, and traffic control.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Recruitment &amp; Retention<\/strong>: Our program boasts a high retention rate, which may be attributed to its multidisciplinary approach that offers ample opportunities for involvement at various levels.&nbsp; Recent statistics show the average tenure of members is around 3 years.&nbsp; Additionally, we have seen an outpouring of citizens requesting to take the G-317 in response to the tornado.&nbsp; We instill values of ownership, empowerment, community action, and volunteerism through our Citizen Corps umbrella of programs.&nbsp; All of our programs enjoy a high cross-training rate among their volunteers, which helps us to be more integrated.&nbsp; We have a robust awards program that recognizes our top volunteers annually at a banquet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\"><strong>Since 2003 Rowlett CERT has provided over 50,000 hours of volunteer service to Rowlett and other communities<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 14pt;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Rowlett CERT has also been recognized with the following awards:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #008000;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">\u200b<\/span><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2004&nbsp;- FEMA Region VI Best Practice<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2007&nbsp;- Governors Volunteer Award<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2007&nbsp;- 2 Medals, McKinney CERT Olympics<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2008&nbsp;- 13 Medals, McKinney CERT Olympics<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2009&nbsp;- Nat\u2019l Citizen Corps Achievement Awards -&nbsp;Honorable Mention<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2010&nbsp;- 2nd&nbsp;Place Overall, Harris County Rodeo<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2011&nbsp;- 1st&nbsp;Place Overall, Harris Count Rodeo<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2011&nbsp;- Regional Service Excellence Award (Hot Stuff Award) \u2013 NCTCOG EPPC<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2012&nbsp;- 2nd&nbsp;Place Overall, Harris County Rodeo<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2015&nbsp;- Community Partner of the Year, Rowlett Chamber of&nbsp;Commerce<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #008000; font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">2015&nbsp;- Certificate of Appreciation, Rowlett Strong<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-272-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-272-1\" ><div id=\"pgc-272-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-272-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div class=\"panel-widget-style panel-widget-style-for-272-1-0-0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial black,sans-serif; font-size: 24pt;\">What We Do<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Disaster Response<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"height: 199px;\" width=\"953\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 340px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrnh51ximgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_74b49ba2ff334fe69bd1e75706174042~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_340,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_74b49ba2ff334fe69bd1e75706174042~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 338px; text-align: center;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrsp20aimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_3836b9a43fc24be59c701be9b87005ef~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_338,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_3836b9a43fc24be59c701be9b87005ef~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 254px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrnhlvzimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_ce7843a9f53f482cb9d8227550a9d28c~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_254,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_ce7843a9f53f482cb9d8227550a9d28c~mv2_d_4032_3024_s_4_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Training<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"height: 205px;\" width=\"857\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 250px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixqoo36qimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_62273761afbb42bd903ed59c58fd144e~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_250,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_62273761afbb42bd903ed59c58fd144e~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 254px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrr16jiimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_459fb1d262be4684b3a1cdb624986b7f~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_254,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_459fb1d262be4684b3a1cdb624986b7f~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 334px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrsqmyaimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_add5d1d43ded4cd28b31d876fce36762~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_334,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_add5d1d43ded4cd28b31d876fce36762~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong><span style=\"font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;\">Community Events<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"height: 207px;\" width=\"842\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 254px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrssfucimgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_3aadb629a3134b739ece7311c71d5034~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_254,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_3aadb629a3134b739ece7311c71d5034~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 254px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrsnseximgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_f11c46c9c4a14166b6047d0d1882cac3~mv2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_254,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_f11c46c9c4a14166b6047d0d1882cac3~mv2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 314px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" id=\"comp-ixrrcsi4imgimage\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/static.wixstatic.com\/media\/0c4d63_4fcb11fd890a46d0945cbe415fcaf9e1~mv2_d_2048_1365_s_2.jpg\/v1\/fill\/w_314,h_190,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01\/0c4d63_4fcb11fd890a46d0945cbe415fcaf9e1~mv2_d_2048_1365_s_2.jpg\" alt=\"\" data-type=\"image\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The City of Rowlett has set the pace for communities across Texas, being one of the first cities in North Central Texas to implement the federal government\u2019s Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) initiative. The program has trained more than 1,000 CERT volunteers and has been recognized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its excellence&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link\"><a href=\"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/?page_id=272\" class=\"\"><span>Read More<\/span><i>&#43;<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":232,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-272","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=272"}],"version-history":[{"count":17,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2342,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272\/revisions\/2342"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=272"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=272"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rowlettcitizencorps.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}