Wanna volunteer? Become a CERT team member

Ever feel like everyone else gets the chance to help others? During Katrina and Rita, were you a little too busy hoarding water and cupcakes to get down to the Dome? Well, it's never too late lend a helping hand or two.

Houstonist is now undergoing Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. What is CERT? Glad you asked:

A community emergency response team (CERT) is a group of volunteer emergency workers. They are usually neighbors. Under good doctrine, they receive professional mass training and become official auxiliaries to local government emergency services in times of emergency or disaster.

The theory behind CERT is based on a simple observation: in major emergencies, professional emergency services overload instantly. Every area in the world has earthquakes and tornadoes, and the most common disasters are floods and severe storms. Common mass emergencies include flood, hurricane, tsunami or earthquake. These can all create mass emergencies, and thus CERTs have a mission everywhere.

More info on that here. Training includes first aid, light search and rescue, fire fighting, and other important tasks. You also get a sweet backpack. If you want to join one, info here.