I was deeply impressed when local government officials described what a CERT program had done for the community during the time of a disaster. I did a brief fiscal assessment of CERT as a cost-effective form of preparedness, response and recovery. It seemed relevant for all California communities. However, there remains a concern about continuity and support of the CERT goals, which is always a risk if there are inadequate numbers of participants. This is true of any non-profit venture.
Volunteers are the heart of the matter, but they are also the greatest challenge.
It seems obvious that a wider perspective is needed for developing an educated, responsive volunteer base for disaster operations. The American Red Cross has worked towards this for many years. The Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts have a proud tradition of also developing youth with a sound understanding of preparedness. However, those programs alone have not built the base of understanding necessary for an entire nation or necessarily directed towards the specific hazards of each unique community. There has to be a more consistent, relevant pathway for CERT to continue through generation after generation, even as residents of a community move.