RARITAN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Hunterdon County) — The Raritan Township Office of Emergency Management will host an informational open house on Thursday, Oct. 23, to recruit new volunteers for its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Raritan Township Municipal Building, located at 1 Municipal Drive in Flemington.
The CERT program, established nationally in 1993 by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), trains volunteers in disaster preparedness and emergency response. The program equips citizens to assist local emergency services during crises and helps strengthen community readiness.
“No prior emergency experience is needed to join CERT,” said Chris Phelan, Raritan Township OEM Coordinator. “All training is provided at no cost. What matters most is a willingness to learn and a desire to help others. CERT members are ordinary residents doing extraordinary things when their community needs them most.”
CERT members play a vital role in Raritan Township’s emergency response network, assisting with shelter operations, communications, traffic control, search and rescue, and community outreach. Volunteers also support local police, fire, and EMS during large public events, weather emergencies, and township-wide drills.
The program offers hands-on training in first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster psychology, and emergency communications. Beyond skill development, CERT volunteers gain leadership experience and the opportunity to serve their community directly.
Residents who attend the open house will meet current CERT members, learn about upcoming training sessions, and discover how they can get involved in keeping Raritan Township safe and prepared.
For more information or to RSVP, contact the Raritan Township Office of Emergency Management at (908) 806-7991 or email oem@raritantwpnj.gov.
