The Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Upshur County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will hold the 2026 Fall Basic CERT Training Course on four Tuesday evenings, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Buckhannon Public Safety Complex, 24 S. Florida St. Participants must attend all four sessions.
The free, 20-hour course teaches residents how to help their families, friends and neighbors in an emergency. Topics include disaster preparedness and disaster psychology, fire suppression, medical aid and triage, light search and rescue, terrorism response and team organization. The course wraps up with a hands-on mock disaster scenario. Everyone who completes the course receives a free preparedness backpack with gear valued at more than $200. The basic course is also required to join the county’s CERT program.
Organizers point to recovery from the July 21 flood as a reminder of why preparation matters.
Registration: The course is free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. Register at cert.upshurcounty.org or through the online registration form by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 30.