Northwestern University police are creating a Community Emergency Response Team program to train volunteers in emergency preparedness in an effort to enhance campus safety and security, according to Evanston Now.

CERT is a national community preparedness program operated under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps Council. The program at Northwestern is a partnership between the Emergency Services Division of University Police and Evanston Fire & Life Safety Services.

According to officials, the CERT program is a way to involve students and staffers in serving the community and increasing the preparedness of individuals at Northwestern. The program is designed to improve readiness, help people and serve the community through education, training and volunteer service.

CERT program members receive an initial 16 hours of training in basic disaster and emergency response skills from instructors in the first responder and emergency management professions, the article says.