Beaufort County residents are being recruited as volunteers for a national program that will make a difference on the local level during emergency situations.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) is a program established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to Capt. Shane Grier of Chocowinity Emergency Medical Services.

Plans are in place to bring the program to Beaufort County.

“We’re looking for community volunteers,” Grier said. “We’re going to provide all the training; we’re going to do CPR, first aid, instant command training, basic fire fighting and just general situational awareness.”

A meeting to share particulars about the program has been scheduled for July 27 at the Chocowinity EMS/fire department building. Two sessions will be offered, one from 10 to 11 a.m. and a second from 6 to 7 p.m.

Grier hopes to recruit volunteers in different communities throughout the county to serve with CERT. In the event of a catastrophe in their community, volunteers would be in place to offer services until professional fire fighters and EMS staff could arrive, Grier pointed out.

“It would be home owners helping home owners during large scale disasters such as tornadoes and hurricanes,” he added.

CERT members would work within the limitations of their training, helping themselves, their families, friends and the community at large.

Grier has been certified as a CERT program manager as has David Phillips of Bath; together the men will work together in hopes of covering the entire county, according to Grier.

The program comes with the perfect price tag.

“This won’t cost taxpayers anything,” Grier said. “In fact, it will help save tax money during emergency situations.”

For more information about the CERT program as well as the informational meeting, email Grier at captain@chocowinityems.org or Arlene (A.J.) Orogino at star454@suddenlink.net.