This year’s unprecedented challenges have not stopped New Yorkers from helping their communities in times of emergency. In fact, many are stepping up to join the New York City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program.

On the latest episode of “Prep Talk,” Herman Schaffer, acting deputy commissioner for community preparedness, and Joseph Pupello, director of volunteer programs at NYC Emergency Management, discussed how the CERT volunteer program has adapted its in-person, hands-on training structure to offer prospective volunteers the chance to receive virtual training. With the assistance of trained instructors from NYPD and FDNY, the prospective volunteers were able to complete training courses in fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, and traffic management. As a result, 36 individuals will graduate on September 15, joining more than 1,200 CERT volunteers who can help their communities during an emergency.