Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Deepwell Estates established its own Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) group in 2011. After a major emergency, like an earthquake or fire, the traditional emergency responders, like the fire department or emergency medical services, may not be immediately available to deal with all of the issues occurring in all of the neighborhoods in Palm Springs. It will be up to each individual neighborhood to look after itself during this time-lag.

As such, the Palm Springs Fire Department sponsors community activists who want to learn skills such as basic first-aid, emergency organization, search operations, and other abilities that will help tide-over and secure our neighborhoods until professional responders can be of assistance. The PSFD hosts the CERT training, entailing 20 hours of class-room and hands-on learning, along with recurring sessions of retraining.

The DENO CERT group established itself to help our Deepwell neighbors in the event of a major emergency. Operations like scouting out the neighborhood for collapsed houses, identification of gas leaks and fires, and providing basic first-aid, will be conducted until more professional responders can make it into our neighborhood.

Of course, the effect of the response that Deepwell can muster is very much dependent upon how many persons have been trained and participate – following a major earthquake, it could be several days before the authorities get to Deepwell. If you are interested in participating, or desire additional information please contact DENO's CERT Coordinator, Mary Moody Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..