The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Using their training, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event and can take a more active role in preparing their community. The CERT program is administered by FEMA at the national level, and is locally managed by the Boone County Emergency Managment Agency of the Boone County Sheriff's Department.

The Boone County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is overseen by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department, and is directed by EMA Coordinator, Deputy Sandra Rogers.

It is the responsibility of EMA to protect the lives and property of the citizens of Boone County before a disaster strikes through planning, training, and mitigation and to reduce human suffering after a disaster strikes through prompt and effective coordination of the local response and recovery efforts utilizing partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies and voluntary organizations.

These voluntary agencies include the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), Amateur Radio Club, and other Emergency Management Volunteers.

For more information on becoming a volunteer in Boone County please visit the following websites:

• Salvation Army: www.salvationarmyusa.org

• Red Cross: www.redcross.org

• CERT (This website): www.cert-boone.com

• DART: www.bc-dart.webs.com

• Amateur Radio: www.booneares.org

Potential disasters the county might face include everything from HazMat (Hazardous Materials) incident, plane crashes, floods, tornados and other natural disasters. In addition, since the tragic attack on September 11, 2001, the role of EMA on a county level has expanded dramatically to include training for terrorist attacks including biological, chemical and bomb threats in cooperation with the Homeland Security Office (www.dhs.gov) and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (www.ready.illinois.gov/ittf).

For further information of Homeland Security (www.dhs.gov) and the Illinois Terrorism Task Force (www.ready.illinois.gov/ittf) please visit the flowing websites:

• Illinois Terrorism Task Force www.ready.illinois.gov/ittf

• Illinois Emergency Management Agency www.iema.gov

• Federal Emergency Management Agency www.fema.gov

• Department of Homeland Security www.dhs.gov
  

615 N. Main St. Belvidere, IL 61008 Phone: 815-547-6535 Fax:      815-544-9573 Email EMA Hours: M-F 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.