Palos Park, IL – Police Commissioner Dan Polk announced that the Palos Park Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training program will return in Spring 2026, offering residents a chance to learn vital emergency response skills.
According to the Palos Park Police Department, the CERT program is a grassroots initiative allowing local and state managers to adapt training to meet community needs. Officer Frank Flores said, “The Community Emergency Response Team program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.”
The CERT initiative has become a nationwide effort, with programs active in all 50 states. Volunteers are trained to respond safely and effectively to emergencies and assist during non-emergency community events. There are now over 2,700 CERT teams and more than 600,000 trained volunteers across the country.
FEMA oversees the national CERT program, which emphasizes hands-on training and realistic exercises to prepare communities for natural disasters and emergencies.
Residents interested in joining the 2026 Palos Park CERT training can contact Officer Frank Flores at fflores@palospark.org for more details.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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