CERT Rutherford Invites Public to Learn Disaster Response Skills at October 11 Meeting

Volunteers train residents in emergency preparedness, home defense, and medical response across Rutherford County

The Rutherford County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT-Rutherford) is inviting residents to its next public meeting on Saturday, Oct. 11, at noon at the Rutherford County Administration Annex, 289 N. Main St. in Rutherfordton.

Since its founding in 2024, CERT-Rutherford has worked to prepare residents for a wide range of local threats — from bear sightings and escaped criminals to floods, power outages, wildfires, and even solar storms. Members receive training to help them stay alert and respond effectively when emergencies strike.

“Our volunteers are often the first to know about major incidents in the county,” said Rick Austin, CERT-Rutherford Program Manager. “We focus on making sure people have the skills and tools to protect their families and neighbors when it matters most.”

Past classes have covered topics such as severe bleeding control, CPR, AED use, home defense, ham radio communications, drone operations during disasters, and nuclear-biological-chemical defense. The group also offers specialized training in wildland firefighting, electrocution prevention, and situational awareness.

This month’s meeting will feature a presentation from the Mountain Area Healthcare Preparedness Coalition, which coordinates mass casualty triage, disaster medical care, decontamination, and emergency communications across Western North Carolina.

Anyone interested in learning more about local disaster readiness is welcome to attend. Food and drinks will be provided.

More information is available at CERT-Rutherford.com. The group is part of the volunteer network of volunteers coordinated by state emergency management.