CERT West Hartford CT

06/26/2026

Thank you to Andrea Slusarz, Ellen Greif, Dallas Dodge, Jay Moses, Tom Proietti, Jeffrey Bersin, and Carolyn Malon for volunteering to assist with the Fire Department's Live Fire Training during the week of June 15-19.

During the training, firefighters entered a specially designed Conex container with a controlled live fire to practice fire attack, search and rescue, and interior firefighting techniques under realistic conditions. Between training rotations, our CERT volunteers staffed a rehabilitation (rehab) area, providing a wash station, shade, cold water, sports drinks, and snacks to help firefighters cool down and recover before returning to training.

The West Hartford Fire Department was extremely appreciative of the team's support. Their assistance helped keep the training running smoothly while ensuring firefighters had the opportunity to properly rehydrate and recover throughout the day. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to support this important training.

06/16/2026

Congratulations to teammates Matt Kilbourn, Jay Moses, Anabela Xavier, John Hardy, Jeff Bersin, Mary Ellen Ladd, Rosanne Demanski, Michele Willis, and Ellen Greif, who represented the West Hartford CERT Team at CERT Saturday, the annual day-long training event held last Saturday at the Central Connecticut State University campus.

CERT Saturday brings together CERT members from communities across Connecticut for a full day of hands-on training, educational workshops, and networking. Thank you all for volunteering your time, continuing to build your skills, and representing our team with professionalism. We appreciate your commitment to serving our community and are proud of the way you represented West Hartford CERT.

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

The West Hartford CERT Basic Training Class concluded on Sunday, May 31, 2026, with 33 students successfully completing the program.

In addition to West Hartford residents and CERT team members, the class included participants from Avon, Farmington, Hartford, Simsbury, and Portland.

The training was conducted from April 1 through May 31, 2026, and provided over 20 hours of instruction in emergency preparedness, disaster response, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, sheltering, and CERT organization.

The program culminated in a hands-on practical exercise in which students demonstrated skills in fire suppression, search and rescue, and disaster medical care.

This class brings the total number of individuals trained through the West Hartford CERT program to more than 387 since its inception in 2021. These volunteers help strengthen community resilience and provide valuable support during emergencies and community events. To learn more, visit https://www.westhartfordct.gov/cert

04/15/2026

ASHER Training Day
A big thank you to everyone who assisted with the West Hartford Police and Fire Department with their ASHER (Active Shooter/Hostile Event Response) training day at Norfeldt Elementary School on April 14, 2026

Our team did an outstanding job with perimeter traffic management and delivered role-playing that's truly award-worthy. Everyone represented the team exceptionally well, and we received multiple expressions of appreciation from police and fire administration, as well as the event organizers.

Special thanks to:
Jeffrey Bersin, Joseph Bleicher, Tom Carson, Dallas Dodge, Cindy Dodge, Laurie Feldman, Jeffrey Ferketic, John Hardy, Marilyn Holt, John Kurowski, Mary Ellen Ladd, Thomas Lowe, Bob Ludwig, Carolyn Malon, Philip Neptin, Vivian Newport, Robert Painter, Tom Proietti, Brenda Roggeveen, Ron Schoffelmeer, Andrea Slusarz, Lynne Turin, and Anabela Xavier.

Your time, professionalism, and dedication made this training a success.

Thank you all!

11/18/2025

On Sunday, November 16, 2025, twenty-four residents graduated from the West Hartford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training program. CERT teams from North Granby, East Windsor, and Southington also participated in the training, helping to strengthen regional relationships that can be used during disasters.

This engaging and comprehensive course, spanning more than 20 hours, provided participants with vital emergency preparedness skills in areas such as Disaster Preparedness, Emergency First Aid, CERT Organization, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, Terrorism Awareness, Fire Safety, and Sheltering Operations.
During hands-on training, participants participated in practical exercises—extinguishing live fires, conducting search-and-rescue drills, and practicing emergency medical care. The Town.

Additionally, the Town received a $1,600 grant from the CT Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS), administered through the Capitol Region Council of Governments (CRCOG), for training equipment and supplies for the course.

The CERT program is a volunteer program administered by the West Hartford Office of Emergency Management under the direction of Fire Chief Greg Priest, Emergency Management Director, that empowers residents to assist their families, neighbors, and the broader community during emergencies when first responders may be delayed. CERT volunteers also support town-wide events and emergency situations, helping to ease the burden on professional responders.

Since its inception in Spring 2021, the West Hartford CERT program has trained over 350 residents and contributed more than 12,000 hours of volunteer service to the community. The team meets monthly at the Elmwood Community Center to maintain their skills and readiness.

The next CERT training class is scheduled for Spring 2026 and will be held on Wednesday evenings. The training is free and open to all residents aged 18 and older.
For more information about the CERT program, please visit https://www.westhartfordct.gov/cert or email [email protected]

09/12/2025

The West Hartford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is looking for new volunteers to join its ranks this fall. The next Basic Training Class kicks off on Saturday, October 11, 2025, and will run for six consecutive weekends.

The 20-hour course is designed to equip residents with essential emergency skills, including disaster preparedness, first aid, disaster psychology, animal sheltering, fire safety, and terrorism awareness. Participants will learn directly from public safety professionals.

Graduates receive a CERT backpack with emergency equipment and a certificate of completion from the Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

“CERT volunteers are neighbors helping neighbors. They play a vital role in making West Hartford more resilient in the face of emergencies and large-scale events,” said Fire Chief Greg Priest, who directs the program.

Since its creation, more than 330 residents have participated in the training. Last year alone, volunteers contributed over 2,000 hours of service — assisting at vaccination clinics, parades, Celebrate West Hartford, mask distributions, and the Food Pantry.

Who Can Join:

Must be at least 18 years old
Must live, work, or attend school in West Hartford
No minimum activity requirements — volunteers serve when available and as interested
Limited Enrollment

The fall training is limited to the first 30 residents who sign up.

Apply now: CERT Team Application: https://westhartford.seamlessdocs.com/ng/fa/certapplication

05/21/2025

On Sunday, May 18, 2025, the West Hartford Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) graduated 35 residents from its most recent Basic Training program! The class contained CERT members from West Hartford, Hartford, East Hartford, and Manchester. We were assisted by the Manchester CERT team, the Disaster Behavioral Health Response Network (DBHRN), which provided trainers for two of the sessions, and the West Hartford Fire Department. Since its inception in Spring 2021, the West Hartford CERT program has trained over 330 residents and contributed more than 10,000 hours of volunteer service to the community.

04/28/2025

April Team Meeting Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended the April monthly meeting. We had an excellent presentation from Firefighter/Paramedic David Noyes on the new Tactical Paramedic Program, which is conducted in coordination with the West Hartford Police Department's Emergency Services Unit.

CERT Leader Bob Hilborn gave CERT members a valuable CPR/AED refresher. We had a great turnout for this very informative session!