Wallingford CERT members in green helmets and high-visibility vests

Home/What We Do

Trained, organized and ready to help

Wallingford CERT volunteers support the Office of Emergency Management, first responders and public health during emergencies and public events, and help neighbors prepare in between.

Our mission

To respond as a team to assist local responders, the community, public health officials and federal agencies in local and regional emergency incidents and public service events.

CERT teams are organized to support both the first responders and the Emergency Operations Center’s support functions.

Local volunteers from Wallingford
Part of the Town’s Office of Emergency Management program
Trained in FEMA’s CERT Basic course

Our services

Six ways we help Wallingford

A North Haven CERT bus and an American Red Cross Disaster Services van parked at night outside the Wallingford Office of Emergency Management

Emergency sheltering

Opening and staffing shelters for residents displaced by fires, storms and outages. After two major fires in one night, CERT sheltered displaced residents at OEM on Hope Hill Road.

Rob K1RCT, Mike KC1VQY and Shawn KC1NQE at Connecticut CERT Day 2025

Emergency communications

Amateur radio operators on the team keep information moving between scenes, shelters and the Emergency Operations Center when phones and power fail.

CERT members tend to firefighters outside the fire station

Support for town emergency services

Logistics, rehab and scene support for Wallingford’s fire, police and EMS crews, whenever they ask for help.

A CERT volunteer beside a Welcome Campers sign at the exercise

Community health preparedness

Working with the Wallingford Health Department and its public health preparedness staff at points of distribution, wellness events and regional exercises, so medicine and supplies can reach residents quickly.

CERT volunteers at the information table at the Zion Fair

Community disaster preparedness

Helping households get ready before disaster strikes: family communication plans, go-kits, home fire safety, and checking on neighbors who may need help.

A Wallingford fire truck parked at a community event beside a bounce house

Community events and outreach

First aid and information booths at community days across town, from Celebrate Wallingford and Family Day to the Wellness Fair.

How CERT helps

During and between emergencies

  • Make sure their own household is safe first; that is every member’s first responsibility.
  • Assist emergency response personnel when requested, in the period right after a disaster.
  • Locate and turn off utilities, if it is safe to do so.
  • Put out small fires and treat injuries.
  • Conduct light search and rescue.
  • Help relieve survivors’ stress.
  • Identify and help neighbors who might need assistance in an emergency.
  • Hand out preparedness materials and give demonstrations.
  • Staff first aid booths at special events.
  • Help install smoke alarms.
  • Support public health exercises and community events.

From FEMA’s CERT Basic Training, Section 1.

Response vehicles at night after two fires in Wallingford
Two fires in one night, June 2025
The CERT booth at Celebrate Wallingford
Our booth at Celebrate Wallingford

How we work

Safe, accountable, organized

Safety first

Scene safety is CERT’s first rule: size up every situation and never become a second victim.

Never alone

Members work in teams and use the buddy system, which keeps everyone safer and accounted for.

Part of incident command

CERT fits into the Incident Command System that professional responders use, documenting what we find and reporting to the command post.

Working alongside

Town of Wallingford Emergency Management Wallingford Health Department Wallingford Amateur Radio Group

Volunteer with us

Want to help your neighbors?

No emergency experience needed. We train you, equip you and put you on a team.

Start your application See the training