SC Proclaims CERT Week as Calhoun County’s Fall Class Opens Oct. 3

Gov. Henry McMaster has proclaimed September 20–26, 2026, as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Week in South Carolina, recognizing the volunteers who train to help their neighbors before professional responders can reach them. The proclamation credits CERT programs statewide with strengthening local preparedness and calls on South Carolinians to take part in emergency preparedness activities during the week.

The timing works out well for Calhoun County. Our fall CERT Basic Training class opens October 3, and the program has some history worth knowing before you sign up.

CERT started with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which piloted the training in 1986 after studying Japan’s earthquake preparedness efforts and watching the aftermath of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, where untrained volunteers performed roughly 800 rescues but more than 100 of them died in the process. The 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake reinforced the lesson. In 1993, FEMA adopted the concept as a national program, and it has since spread to all 50 states.

Calhoun County started its own CERT program beginning in 2014. Members train alongside professional responders and serve as a force multiplier during large-scale incidents: checking on neighbors, sharing preparedness information, supporting the EOC, and helping organize volunteers and donations when a disaster stretches county resources thin.

Bill Minikiewicz

CERT Trainer & Course Administrator

A 37-year resident of Calhoun County, Bill was hired by the county in 1989 to establish its full-time EMS service and later its E-911 communications center. In 2001 he became the county’s first full-time Emergency Manager. He retired as Emergency Services Director in 2018 and now serves part-time as an assistant to the CCEMA director. Bill is a certified CERT instructor and CERT Course Administrator and will lead CERT classes in Calhoun County beginning this fall.

This fall’s class runs five sessions, about 20 hours total:

Oct. 3, 1–5 p.m.: Disaster Preparedness & CERT Organization
Oct. 10, 1–5 p.m.: Disaster Medical Operations, Parts 1 & 2
Oct. 17, 1–5 p.m.: Disaster Psychology & Terrorism
Nov. 7, 1–5 p.m.: Fire Fighting, Utilities & Search and Rescue
Nov. 14, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.: Course Review, Final Exam & Disaster Drill

Training is free and open to Calhoun County residents 18 and older. No prior emergency response experience is required. Participants receive safety equipment, protective clothing, a first aid kit, and CERT identification at no cost.

Bill Minikiewicz, CERT Trainer/CERT Course Administrator, stated that when CCEMA announced this fall’s class on Sept. 16, only a couple of seats remained. Availability may have changed since then, so call, text, or email CCEMA directly to confirm a spot rather than assume one is still open.

To reserve a spot, contact CCEMA:
Phone: 803-874-3042
Text: 803-606-1812
Email: [email protected]

1. Sign up for Calhoun CodeRED. It’s the county’s emergency notification system and the fastest way to get alerts directly to your phone.
calhounema.com/calhoun-codered-signup

2. Bookmark calhounema.com. Check it for current OPCON status, current weather, advisories, and updates like this one.

Be ready. Be trained. Make a difference.

Stay safe, Calhoun County.

Sources:
Governor Henry McMaster, Proclamation: South Carolina CERT Week, Sept. 20–26, 2026, via South Carolina Emergency Management Association: facebook.com/SCEmergency
South Carolina Emergency Management Division, “Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) in SC”: scemd.org
San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District, “How Did CERT Start?”: firedepartment.org
Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency, Facebook announcement, Sept. 16, 2026: facebook.com/ccemasc
Calhoun County CERT Program page: calhounema.com/cert