CITY OF RENTON WASHINGTON

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training teaches individuals how to prepare their homes and neighborhoods to respond to a disaster through a combination of classroom and hands on training. CERT graduates are the primary source of emergency volunteers in the city.

Renton Emergency Communication Service (RECS) provides backup communications for the City in an emergency using ham radio and other methods. This non-profit club is dedicated to continuously updating its skills through ongoing training and public service.

The mission and purpose of the Greater Renton Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), which includes neighborhoods, schools, businesses, government, faith communities, and non-profit organizations, is to identify, network, organized, and deploy resources to address the unmet human needs in disaster recovery.

After a disaster happens, many people want to help with response or recovery efforts. This is deeply admirable, but sometimes donating items or arriving at the scene of an emergency to volunteer causes more problems than it solves.

Cash donations are more effective and efficient than donations of items or time. Unless there is a specific request for items or for volunteers, avoid making assumptions about what people need or want after a disaster.

If you need help deciding where to donate, the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) website has a list of major non-profits that provide aid in an emergency.

Only deploy to an emergency site if you work with an established volunteer group. CERT is Renton's local source of disaster volunteers. Other trusted groups to volunteer with include NVOAD, the American Red Cross, United Way of King County, and FEMA Corps.