Rising Resilience: Reflections from the 2026 CERT Summit

On January 29, 2026, nearly 240 community members, emergency management professionals, and volunteers gathered at The Ora for The Patterson Foundation's inaugural CERT Summit: Rising Resilience, Ready Together. What unfolded throughout the day was more than just training sessions and networking—it was a testament to our region's commitment to preparedness and the strength that emerges when neighbors choose to help neighbors. It also reflected TPF's approach of undertaking philanthropic work in ways others are not doing, cannot do, or will not do—focusing not just on disaster response, but on building the connective tissue that makes communities truly resilient.

The summit brought together participants from across Charlotte, DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota counties, representing the full spectrum of our disaster preparedness ecosystem: active CERT volunteers, COAD members, Long-Term Recovery Groups, emergency management teams, and community members exploring how to get involved. This cross-section of participants wasn't incidental—it was essential. As former FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate reminded us in his keynote address, "It's the nature of people to want to help. CERT simply gives people some training and organization. It's not the full answer – it's the beginning."

Throughout the day's plenary and breakout sessions, a clear message emerged: resilience is a collective endeavor. It's not built in the chaos of disaster response, but in rooms where people gather to learn, connect, and commit to being ready together. The summit itself embodied TPF's commitment to being accessible and engaged—creating space where CERT volunteers, emergency management professionals, and community members could learn together, sharing successes and challenges openly. At its heart, CERT is about neighbors stepping up for neighbors—volunteers motivated not by professional obligation, but by a genuine desire to protect and serve their communities. They're everyday people motivated by care for their communities who've chosen to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to serve when it matters most.

On that note, Amanda Reuter from DeSoto County and Liz Raucci from Manatee County led a breakout session highlighting a process for starting a CERT from the ground up – from setting goals and objectives to developing training plans, securing resources, etc.

Another session, led by TPF's Sara Leonard and Stephanie Sielaty, with the Sarasota County Government, discussed strategies for recruiting, retaining, recognizing, and managing volunteers – a helpful discussion since CERT teams are made up of volunteers!

The energy in the room reflected something deeper than enthusiasm for training. It demonstrated what TPF's Karen Windon has described as the connective tissue our region needs. The summit represented an investment in lasting impact—recognizing that real change in disaster preparedness requires depth of resources, commitment, and persistence. After weathering multiple severe storms in recent years, our communities understand that waiting for help isn't enough—we must be ready to help.

The 2026 CERT Summit wasn't just about strengthening disaster response; it was about strengthening the bonds that hold communities together. In a world where the frequency and severity of disasters continue to grow, that connective tissue matters more than ever. Moving forward, we need to continue to foster wide participation so that we can engage more community residents and leaders to build greater resilience.

We are, indeed, stronger together.