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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

Seattle Neighbors Actively Prepare (SNAP)

In the Puget Sound area we can experience a variety of disasters from weather related floods and power outages to single family fires or  a moderate or a major earthquake. We also know that our normal daily lives can be severely disrupted and services we are used to getting (clean water, electricity, natural gas, phone and internet, fire and police response) will be very limited to non-existent. That is why we encourage people to not only prepare themselves and their families, but to talk to their neighbors about how they will work together to make sure everyone in the neighborhood is safe and cared for.

The City of Seattle has created the Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare (SNAP) program to help your neighborhood get organized. There is an online toolkit that provides practical step-by-step instructions on organizing as a neighborhood. If you want, the Office of Emergency Management can come out to your home and help your neighborhood get organized. SNAP is a simple and flexible process that can be customized to meet the needs of your neighborhood. For more information about SNAP or to schedule a SNAP meeting, call 206-233-5076 or  email us at SNAP@seattle.gov.

Map Your Neighborhood (MYN)

Neighborhoods that are prepared for emergencies and disaster situations save lives, reduce the severity of injuries and trauma and reduce property damage. In addition, contributing as an individual and working together as a team helps develop stronger communities and improve the quality of life in the community.

The Map Your Neighborhood program guides you and your neighbors through simple steps to help enhance your preparedness for an emergency. These steps will help you to quickly and safely take actions that can minimize damage and protect lives.

Map Your Neighborhood is designed to improve disaster readiness at the neighborhood level and teaches neighbors to rely on each other during the hours or days before fire, medical, police or utility responders arrive.

Medical Reserve Corps

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities. The MRC network comprises 996 community-based units and over 200,000 volunteers located throughout the United States and its territories.

MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals, as well as other community members without healthcare backgrounds. MRC units engage these volunteers to strengthen public health, improve emergency response capabilities and build community resiliency. They prepare for and respond to natural disasters, such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornados, blizzards, and floods, as well as other emergencies affecting public health, such as disease outbreaks. They frequently contribute to community health activities that promote healthy habits.