The purpose of this CERT IS-317 course was to prepare people who are not in the disaster relief professional field to help in the event of a disaster. These ordinary individuals become part of a team that can help prepare their families, neighbors and colleagues for the threat of disaster. Participants in the CERT program become familiar with disaster preparedness, fire safety, awareness of hazardous chemicals, disaster medical operations, terrorist threats, and search and rescue procedures. After completion of this course and along with practical classroom experience, CERT participants will be a valuable aid to professionals during a disaster (CERT Training Manual, 2011). Disaster preparedness is a vital part of the CERT program. As the basis of the CERT program, preparation begins both at home and in the office. By preparing before a disaster develops, lives and property can be saved. When preparing for a disaster, risk mitigation and disaster preparedness must be considered. Risk mitigation is conducted in the home and office to determine potential hazards and eliminate or reduce the threat. Once hazards are identified and mitigated, the CERT member can begin preparing for a potential disaster. You should develop a family emergency plan that includes plans for both evacuation and sheltering in place. Disaster preparedness kits should be compiled. The kit should include basic supplies to meet the family's needs for a few days, if necessary. This kit should be mobile to meet both evacuation and shelter-in-place needs (CERT Training Manual, 2011). When a disaster strikes, it is critical that all components of the emergency response work together to optimally combat the disaster. ..... middle of the paper ...... the participant has finished the CERT IS-317 course the final exam is the only thing that prevents him from using the knowledge gained to help his family and neighbors during a disaster . A CERT member can be a valuable resource in the event of a disaster. CERT members may be the initial command leaders until professional disaster relief personnel arrive on scene. Ultimately, this course prepares people to be more informed about potential dangers and gives them the tools to both reduce threats and deal with disasters. After all, being prepared for an illness is half the battle (CERT Training Manual, 2011). Works Cited Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2011). Community Emergency Response Team Basic Training Participant Manual Retrieved from http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/downloads/training/participantmanual/PM-Combined.pdf