CERT uses several databases and alert systems to keep members up to date with the latest information and allow CERT leadership to send notices or alerts.
Get Activ!
CERT uses a system called “ActiV,” a volunteer management system run by the Montgomery County Volunteer Center. It allows CERT leaders to send you notices and alerts and it allows YOU to sign up for training and other interesting and valuable events.
To create an account on ActiV or to log in to your ActiV account (to change yoru contact information or to sign up for events and trainings), go to: https://activ.montgomerycountymd.gov/.
Make sure you sign up for the “Community Emergency Response Team.” (Note: If you are already a member of another county team listed there, you will need to create a different account to join each team. Add CERT to your last name, for example, to make it different.)
Stay informed!
The Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) uses Alert Montgomery to contact subscribers during a major crisis, emergency, or severe weather event.
— It’s Free! (Your cell phone service might charge you for text messages, so check on this.)
— It’s important information! We count on this system to give you critical public-safety information, such as tornado warnings, that you need NOW!
— You can tailor it to your specific needs! If you commute, add traffic reports, or you can keep it to the most urgent information such as tornado warnings.
— You can have alerts sent to your e-mail account (work, home, other), cell phone, text pager, BlackBerry, wireless PDA, XM Radio Channel 214, or Twitter – you control what you get, where!
To sign up for this important free service, go to https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov/ .
Get your CERT Credentials!
To get a CERT Identification card, you must have successfully completed the CERT training and you must be fingerprinted and have a background check.
Enter PIMS!
The Personnel Management Information System is run by the County government and your information must be in PIMS in order to get a CERT ID card. PIMS is extremely secure and it’s accessible only to a few authorized personnel.
PIMS needs your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth in order to process your ID card. Our CERT human resources officer can enter this information into PIMS by a phone call to you or (by prior arrangement) you can enter it yourself through a special laptop computer. CERT does not record or retain this information; it goes directly to the County system.
Then you go on over to the County Fire & Rescue offices in Rockville to get your fingerprints and ID photo taken (by appointment)
To start this process, please contact
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. You will get applications and complete information on how to do all this.