BUNNELL, Fla. — With the start of the hurricane season, emergency response teams across the state are making sure their communities are prepared. 

In Flagler County, they are doing so through the Community Emergency Response Team — also known as CERT training. The nationally certified training program is offered free to residents who are interested in learning basic emergency response skills.

What You Need To Know

  • A CERT Basic Course is delivered by Flagler County Emergency Management, Flagler County Fire Rescue, and Flagler Volunteer Services throughout the year

  • The nationally certified training program is offered free to residents who are interested in learning basic emergency response skills

  • The 30-hour course includes various topics, including fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization

  • The next CERT training session will begin in September

Flagler County resident Jill Dempsey volunteers her time working as a dispatcher with the Flagler County Citizen Observer Patrol (C.O.P.).

She’s lived in her home in Flagler County for more than 35 years and has seen her share of natural disasters, from fires to hurricanes.

“I need to have a backup plan if there is an evacuation, whether it be fire, flood, hurricane, tornado, I need to have a way out,” Dempsey said.

That’s why she decided to join the Flagler County Community Emergency Response Team — also known as CERT. The free, 30-hour course teaches residents basic disaster and emergency response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, and team organization.

“Things like how to clear a building, how to see if somebody is in there, if there a structural damage inside or outside, other people trapped, other people injured,” Dempsey said.

The CERT Basic Course is delivered by Flagler County Emergency Management, Flagler County Fire Rescue, and Flagler Volunteer Services throughout the year. 

As a former Daytona Beach Police Department dispatcher, Dempsey said she knows the importance of being prepared. Even more so since she became disabled.

“I am now legally blind, physically, permanently disabled," she said. "I am not able to work as a dispatcher anymore, but I found that I am now able to act as a civilian non-emergency dispatcher by volunteering my time."

But that didn’t stop her from doing everything she can to help others. Dempsey said she is able to leave the house and volunteer with different organizations with the help of her two freedom guide dogs, Kissable Katie and Sir Enoch.

“They are my lifeline to the world," Dempsey said. "They are my guardian angels."

She said one of the hobbies she picked up when she was able to leave the house for the first time was learning how to shoot, for which she has won several awards.

“I won this the same year that Sheriff Staley won top cop award. He won it the same year I did it, the same match," she said. "We looked at each other and shook each other's hands. To this day, he jokes, 'Believe it or not, don't let the blind lady fool you. She is a pretty good shot.'”

As she prepares to go to the CERT training, Dempsey gets her dog Sir Enoch ready to head out the door. They ride on the Flagler County Paratransit system, which takes them door-to-door, from Dempsey’s home to the Emergency Operations Center where the training takes place.

CERT Trainer Gary Bomely said residents learn how to help people while first responders are focusing on the most critical needs in a disaster.

“We teach them the basic skills, so that they can go and be of assistance, and then turn them back over to the professionals when the professionals become available,” Bomely said.

Sitting in the first row, Dempsey and Sir Enoch get ready for class. Bomely said as the population in Flagler County continues to grow, there is a greater need to have service members ready to respond throughout the communities.

“What we try to do is take our CERT members, and if they're located in one residential area, put them together in a team so that if a disaster were to happen in their area, those people would get together and respond,” Bomely said.

As for Dempsey, she says as long as she can, she will continue helping others.

“Instead of going to a shelter where others will have to provide for me, I want to be able to go to C.O.P., to Flagler County Sheriff's Office or to the Emergency Management and be a resource for my community," she said.

The next CERT training session will begin in September with classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information on the training or to register for a future session, visit the Flagler County Volunteer & Training webpage.

Residents without internet access can call 386-313-4200 for assistance.