Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT)

When natural disasters hit, professional first responders are often overwhelmed with calls for help. To better prepare for these circumstances, Woodbury Public Safety formed the Volunteer Emergency Response Team (VERT), a group of individuals trained to help professional responders in emergency situations. VERT provides immediate assistance to the Public Safety Department and ongoing support to the community through events.

VERT assists Public Safety personnel with a variety of activities including: controlling the perimeter of a scene or event, looking for lost persons, reunifying lost family members, sandbagging and setting up temporary relocation shelters for victims.

Training

The Public Safety Department coordinates the VERT through a steering committee and provides volunteers with responder training in a number of nationally recognized training programs such as, basic first aid, CPR and disaster preparedness and assistance.

Volunteers are encouraged to complete two training classes per year. The training sessions are adapted to the experience levels of the participants, last about two hours each and are offered at no expense to the volunteers. Equipment, including ID badges, helmets and vests, also is provided.

Join Today!

We would love to have you on our VERT team! If you are interested in joining, please download and complete the application and criminal background check forms (PDF). One the forms are complete, please have them notarized and either drop the off or mail them to the Woodbury Public Safety Department. VERT members must be at least 18 years of age or older and pass a criminal background check.

Current Members

Current VERT members can visit the VERT Portal to view the training schedule and other training resources.