About CERF
CERF (Christian Emergency Response task Force) is home-based out of Grace Family Church in Tampa, Florida. However, CERF reaches out farther than that. All members of CERF become CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) certified. CERT is a national program that is coordinated on state and local levels. The training is standardized across the country which means that the same thing is being taught the same way all over the U.S. This allows CERT members from Florida to communicate effectively and efficiently with CERT members from California, New York, or any other state. This also means that CERT members from one county can communicate and work with CERT members from other counties just as easily. This is important because if CERT members are supplementing efforts in another area, members from different teams will still know how to read the search and rescue indicators marked on the outside of buildings; they will know what green, yellow, red, or black tape means when they see it on a disaster victim's arm, and so forth because it's all the same all across the country.
The nationwide CERT program falls under the guidance of the Department of Homeland Security, and the local CERT's fall under the guidance and training of the local fire and rescue organizations. The Grace Family Church CERF team is designated as a CERT and is in the region managed by the Hillsborough County Fire and Rescue Department. Upon joining CERF, one will go through CERT training and at the end of the course will become CERT certified. This does not give the individual any powers or authority. This does not make the individual an employee, or agent of any governmental agency. What this does is give the person specialized training on how to prepare for and provide relief for various disasters whether they be man-made or natural. An example of a man-made disaster is a terrorist attack, tanker spill on the highway, a barge hitting a bridge, etc. Natural disasters of course include hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, etc. Not every disaster is on a large scale though. CERT training will also help individuals know how to deal with smaller events such as car accidents or kitchen fires.
CERT training gives the individual knowledge on how to prepare for such disasters so that the individual, their family, and their business can reduce the amount of risk and damage that they are exposed to. It also gives the individual knowledge on how to help themselves, their family, and their community after the disaster has occurred. This includes light search and rescue, fire suppression, triage, first aid, and other skills deemed helpful in disaster situations.