how we started

CERT is an emergency preparedness program supported by the FEMA Individual Community Preparedness Division. The program educates citizens about local hazards, and disaster preparedness and response. CERT offers a consistent nationwide approach to volunteer training, that professional responders can rely on during planned events and disasters.

New Braunfels CERT was established by the City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in December 2010 with support from the leadership of the City of New Braunfels.

NBCERT members receive special training to enhance their ability to support the OEM, city first responders and all other city departments during planned events as well as emergency/disaster events.

The need for a community based, volunteer group in the City of New Braunfels was realized after the June 9, 2010 flood that affected the city and surrounding communities. This devastating flood caused millions of dollars in destruction to homes and businesses. Many citizen volunteers stepped forward during this time of need to help their neighbors. The city recognized that trained and vetted citizen volunteers could be an asset to the community and emergency responders and started the New Braunfels Community Emergency Response Team Program.

With the assistance of the City of New Braunfels, Comal County, the Alamo Area Community of Governments (AACOG), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), NBCERT provides preparedness, response and first-aid training to our community. The team has assisted multiple agencies as well as the City of New Braunfels Office of Emergency Management with various planned and emergency  events.

our training

The FEMA CERT Basic training consists of a 24-hour course that includes disaster preparedness, disaster first aid, light search and rescue, fire safety, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness.

As part of the basic training, the participants complete a disaster exercise to demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have learned. The disaster exercise  is a controlled simulated incident that incorporates many role-playing victims in multiple states of distress. 

NBCERT hosts monthly training meeting where members continue their education and development. The program offers various other training opportunities, including Search & Rescue Technician, Wilderness First Aid, Stop the bleed, CPR/AED/Basic First Aid, American Red Cross Shelter Training, and Skywarn by the National Weather Service.  The Program encourages members to take additional trainings through Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas A&M Extension Services FEMA (TEEX) and FEMA.

NBCERT is constantly working on various training programs, exercises, and developing plans and procedures for planned and emergency events. We utilize the Incident Command System (ICS) for the team structure and to operate when activated. Several of our members have developed into excellent instructors and work hard to train the team and our community members. These instructors teach the CERT Basic course, Search & Rescue certification skills , Stop the Bleed and CPR/Basic First Aid/AED. Some of the training events we participate in include:

• San Antonio Mass Casualty Exercise and Evaluation (SAMCEE) Annual Exercise  
• Active Shooter Training
• Point of Distribution Exercise
• Amateur Radio Exercise