The operational structure of PMC CERT is based on the modular Incident Command System (ICS) which adapts to emergencies of any type or scale. Every CERT member understands that they may need to to step into any function: incident command, planning and intelligence, logistics, search and rescue, medical response, or radio communication. Our goal is to do the greatest good for the greatest number, without becoming victims ourselves.

To continuously develop and maintain emergency response capabilities, our non-emergency activities also follow a coordinated structure. 

Our History

The Emergency Preparedness (EP) Committee in PMC, has been storing supplies in three separate caches in order to strategically have these supplies available in an Emergency. The EP Committee was able to go a step further in their efforts to assist their community's when Santa Barbara County Fire Chief Randy Coleman recommended starting a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). The first CERT Academy was conducted in 2008. There are currently about 40 personnel on the team, both PMC homeowners and PMCPOA employees, that have completed the 20 hour FEMA course and are ready to respond to an emergency. How do we prepare? PMC CERT meets the fourth Saturday of each month, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM in Building A on 2420 Symonds Drive. There are both classroom and field trainings conducted at these meetings. Team members are required to maintain proficiency in skills and knowledge. A minimum of 20 hours of training is required annually, along with two disaster drills and/or community service events to maintain member in good standing status. First Aid/CPR & AED training is offered to CERT and community members every year. CERT Academy training is offered every even year depending on student participation. PMC CERT received a trailer stocked with emergency supplies from Kern Office of Emergency Services (OES) in November 2008. February 2016 Kern County and Pine Mountain Club Property Owners Association signed an agreement for the use of the Kern County Fire Department equipment and workshop buildings by PMC CERT.

The Origin Story

The CERT concept was developed by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD). In 1985, LAFD officials traveled to Japan to study their disaster response plans. They learned that Japan used extensive training programs to train neighborhoods in basic emergency skills: light search and rescue, fire suppression, first aid, and evacuation.

Later that year, a violent 8.1 earthquake hit Mexico City and killed thousands of people. A LAFD group traveled to Mexico City and observed how untrained neighbors were often first to respond to those trapped and injured nearby.

Soon the L.A. City Fire Department began training their neighborhood watch leaders to perform basic fire suppression, light search and rescue, and first aid. This first team of 30 people completed training in early 1986. Using drills, demonstrations, and exercises, they proved that using layperson emergency responders was a viable concept.

In 1987, the 5.9-magnitude Whittier Narrows earthquake just 12 miles east of L.A. proved to officials of the need for training civilians to better aid others and meet immediate needs. After the earthquake, L.A. created the Disaster Preparedness Unit within the Fire Department. Their goals were to:

• Educate and train the public and government sectors in disaster preparedness.

• Research, evaluate, and publicize disaster information.

• Develop, train, and maintain a network of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).