The South Lake County CERT team is one of Illinois's largest, most active, and best-equipped CERT teams. Our diverse team of 50+ community-service-minded members is always looking for new citizens over the age of 18. 

Would you like to contribute your skills and learn valuable new skills to help protect yourself, your family, and your community? We invite you to learn more about SLCR CERT and how you can contribute your skills and energy to our local communities.

New Member classes combine lectures, discussion, and hands-on practice to develop skills and confidence.  A subject matter expert teaches each class, and our senior CERT team instructors and members support your learning during hands-on practice sessions.  At each meeting, we cover a chapter of the CERT training, building upon and reinforcing the concepts and materials from prior classes. Topics of Training  - Radio Communications, CPR/AED, First Aid, Disaster Medical (Part I and II), Disaster Preparedness, Disaster Psychology, CERT/Terrorism, Fire Safety and Utility Controls, Search and Rescue, Traffic Control, Call-out Procedures.

For more information about joining our team and training class schedules, please contact our Training Section Chief ( training@slcrcert.org ) 

Class sessions are held weekly in the evenings, generally from 7-10 pm

Lake Zurich Fire Department Station #1

321 S. Buesching Road, Lake Zurich, IL 60047

Our Members

Members have many different roles. While each member shares the same basic training, you can participate with one or more specialty teams as desired (communications, traffic, medical, search, equipment, events, marketing, administration). No prior experience is needed—team members will help you develop new skills.

We have worked hard to earn the trust of the professional first responders who serve our communities.   Our team operates professionally, as we represent the communities we serve.  We are fully trained and understand and support the use of the Department of Homeland Security Incident Command System (ICS), and support the chain of command.  

ICS enables SLCR CERT to operate efficiently and effectively as part of a large, complex emergency management response team that may include hundreds of professional responders and other volunteer agencies.

We have fun too – and you will enjoy the friendship of our members.

What do we do?

SLCRCERT provides students with the required personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, mask, helmet) and supplies (bandages, dressings, flashlight, and other tools) that will be utilized during the training.

Upon graduation, you can (optionally) join the all-volunteer SLCR CERT and help support our communities – at a wide variety of scheduled community service events and/or in support of emergency events to assist our local police, fire, EMS, and public works departments in Lake Zurich, Long Grove, Hawthorn Woods, Kildeer, Deer Park, and unincorporated Ela Township. You do not need to be a resident of these communities to be a member.   

Team members receive ongoing training – recent topics include Stop the Bleed, Mental Health First Aid, Active Assailant, Disaster Assessment workshop, Autism, Alzheimer's,  Spontaneous Volunteers, Advanced Search and Rescue, and Traffic Management Strategies.

Examples of SLCR CERT providing emergency support activities include:

• emergency radio communications equipment and services

• traffic management for fires, vehicle and train incidents, downed power and utility lines, power and traffic signal outages, and natural gas leaks

• off-road transportation for first responders and residents during emergencies

• rehab trailer delivery, equipment setup, and support of firefighter rehabilitation

• support and scene protection at the structure and field fires 

• incident scene lighting 

• setup and operate heating and cooling shelters for first responders and residents

• clearing of trees/branches/debris from roads to enable emergency vehicle access

• conduct storm or incident-related damage assessment 

• assist with flood-related incidents: assessment, resident notification, sandbagging, constructing levees, pumping

• conduct and/or manage search and rescue (SAR) for missing persons and evidence, and provide SAR logistical support (communications, team transport, off-road transport and containment, traffic, parking, security, lighting, etc.)

• assist in facility and resident evacuations

• assist with train-related issues, accidents, and derailments

• support the operation of the Emergency Operations Center

• staffing of a multi-agency Resource Center (MARC) or Family Assistance Center (FAC)

SLCR CERT Resources

• 3 Tow/Utility Vehicles

• 3 Equipment Trailers – first aid, tents, cots, generators, lights, tools, traffic cones, etc.

• John Deere Utility Vehicle

• 2 Diesel Powered Light Towers

• Community-wide, public safety licensed VHF 2-way radio system, 60 radios, two fixed and two mobile repeaters

• Training/support from Lake Zurich and Long Grove Fire Departments

• Training/support from Hawthorn Woods, Lake Zurich, and Kildeer Police Departments, and the Lake County Sheriff