FEMA Region 2 Attended the 2022 National CERT Conference in Texas

Personnel from FEMA Region 2, with FEMA Administrator Dean Criswell at the National CERT Conference./FEMA Deborah Costa

Representatives from the National Preparedness Division from all states and territories included in FEMA Region 2 attended the 2022 National CERT Conference held in Galveston, Texas on August 18-20, 2022, which included pre-conference training from August 15-18, 2022.  This conference was planned by the National CERT Association in partnership with FEMA Region 6. 

The conference included a variety of presentation and training opportunities, such as deliveries of the CERT Train-the-Trainer Course, CERT Program Manager Course, the Teen CERT Train-the-Trainer annex, CERT Master Instructor Course, a CERT Donations Management Support Supplemental Training module, CERT for People with Disabilities, and a Listos Train the Trainer course. LISTOS is an 8-hour preparedness program developed in California focused on engaging the Spanish speaking community.

FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and FEMA Individual & Community Preparedness Division (ICPD) Director, Aaron Levy, also spoke at the conference, and provided updates regarding FEMA’s support of the CERT program. Leadership from CERT Latin Global also attended the conference.  CERT Latin Global is an international organization that works with Spanish Speaking countries to develop CERT capabilities as part of their emergency preparedness and emergency response efforts. An equity-focused panel was also offered, which included leaders from various programs focused on strengthening equity in emergency preparedness and management, including representatives from the Listos program and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Participants that trained under the Listos Train the Trainer session. FEMA/Xaymara Diaz