Gain basic skills to help in case of emergency

Hood River County is home to about 25,000 people and welcomes around 2.5 million visitors each year. Our County faces many natural challenges from wildfire, earthquakes, winter storms, and even high-hazard volcanic eruptions.  We have steep and rugged terrain, fast flowing rivers, and dense vegetation in an area of about 533 square miles. 

The County also has a very limited number of firefighters and EMTs (emergency medical technician), many of whom are volunteers. As a result, in times of disaster, it might take longer than you'd like for help to arrive. In a big emergency, you may end up being the help until help arrives.

Two significant parts of being prepared are knowing what to do and acting quickly. Acting promptly can often prevent a small problem from becoming a big one. Simple actions like using a fire extinguisher, turning off a gas valve, stopping bleeding from a wound, or performing CPR can make a huge difference when done correctly and swiftly. Having skills not only helps you and your family, but also allows you to assist your neighbors until other help arrives.

Hood River County Emergency Management wants to help you learn and practice emergency preparedness skills. Our CERT Academy is a place where you can gain essential life-saving capabilities like basic medical care, fire safety, search and rescue methods, and a better understanding of how people react in disasters. CERT stands for Community Emergency Response Team and is a program of FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Community Preparedness with an established curriculum. Local government agencies sponsor CERT trainings and implement them in a manner well-suited to a community.

If you're interested in using these skills as part of a community group, we'd be thrilled to have you join a community team. However, you don't have to join a team to make a difference. Just knowing what to do to help yourself and your family can relieve pressure on first responders. We encourage you to consider the CERT Academy for your own peace of mind, and for the welfare of those around you.

Classes start in January 2024. Email cert@hoodrivercounty.gov for more information.