The Arcata Community Emergency Response Team's mission is to serve and safeguard our community through volunteer service to help prepare, mitigate, respond and recover from emergencies and natural disasters, to protect life and property while ensuring "the greatest good for the greatest number."

To this end we work with the City of Arcata, the Arcata Police Department, The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services, and other local disaster-related organizations and individuals to increase the preparedness and resiliency of our community.

We receive guidance from and work to support Arcata's Hazard Mitigation Action Plan:

• Action ARC14- Continue to support the development and ongoing training of Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)   
• Action ARC5-Identify and pursue strategies to increase adaptive capacity to climate change including but not limited to the following: Public outreach and education regarding emergency preparedness and hazard risk awareness.
• Action ARC13- Develop detailed lists of existing and needed emergency resources (shelters, food sources, etc.).
• Action ARC15- Maintain updated Hazard and Emergency Preparedness information on the City's website with a link to the County's Website.
• Action ARC16- Develop Semi-annual City staff training in community emergency response.

We also receive guidance from and work to support Arcata's 2018-2019 City Council Priority Projects:

• 4. Develop a Crime Prevention Officer (non-sworn) to work on crime prevention strategies and disaster preparedness such as:
  • a. Neighborhood and Business Watch
  • d. Support Community Emergency Response Team development
• 5. Valley West Improvements. Staff will provide a list of potential enhancements through the budget process to include the development of a long-term comprehensive strategy for revitalization as well as short term that address:
  • d. Ways to engage the businesses and residents
• 11. Update and further develop City-wide disaster preparedness and emergency response strategies

Since its creation in 2017 our team's accomplishments have included:

• 2017-2018 Accomplishments
• 2018-2019 Accomplishments