Oak Harbor CERT Basic Course Set for Feb. 13–15

Island County Emergency Management listed a CERT Basic Course scheduled in Oak Harbor from Feb. 13 through Feb. 15, 2026, at 855 E. Whidbey Ave., according to the county events calendar entry that first announced the session. The Oak Harbor posting provided the event name and location but did not include registration contact, instructor name, course hours, or fee information in the snippet available to this reporter.

The training follows the national Community Emergency Response Team model tied to Department of Homeland Security and FEMA guidance. The Oakland University undergraduate catalog summarizes that approach: "Concepts, rationale, theory and practical applications of basic citizen preparedness for disaster survival and rescue skills are taught using the Department of Homeland Security CERT curriculum, leading to certification. CERT is designed to prepare individuals to help themselves and the immediate community in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Graded S/U." That language underlines the classroom-based, certification-oriented aim officials cite for local CERT offerings.

Course content typically covers fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Local and training-group descriptions preserved in course materials note practical tasks such as managing utilities and putting out small fires, conducting triage, performing head-to-toe patient assessments, and setting up a treatment area. AAACERT spells out learning objectives that include identifying local hazards, taking steps to prepare family members, reducing household fire risks, and applying techniques "for opening airways, controlling excessive bleeding, and treating for shock."

While the Oak Harbor calendar entry did not state a classroom length, multiple CERT providers and training systems commonly describe the instructor-led CERT Basic curriculum as a 21-hour program. AAACERT states plainly, "Our 21-hour course teaches these skills using updated FEMA-supplied materials, incorporating practical exercises, and culminating with a disaster scenario in a realistic environment." A separate North Carolina TERMS posting for a different jurisdiction similarly lists 21.00 course hours and 2.10 CEUs, illustrating how jurisdictions frequently structure the basic course even when local postings omit those details.

The county event listing included a truncated address version in one copy, showing "at 855 E. Whid," while another copy records the full "855 E. Whidbey Ave., Oak Harbor." The Oak Harbor entry did not provide a registration link, phone number, or email in the supplied text; FEMA guidance cautions that online independent-study material is not a substitute for classroom training: "Remember: It is important to understand that completion of this Independent Study course is not equivalent to, and cannot be used in place of, the classroom delivery of the CERT Basic training. To become a CERT volunteer, you must complete the classroom training offered by a local government agency such as the emergency management agency, fire or police department."

Island County Emergency Management / CERT's events calendar is the primary source for the Oak Harbor listing; anyone seeking confirmation of registration procedures, cost, meeting times, instructor names, participant capacity, accessibility accommodations, materials to bring, or whether completion awards certification should check directly with Island County Emergency Management for final details.