Evaluating CERTS' Spatial Relationship to Marginalized and Unmapped Communities

Abstract

Freedom colonies are historic African American communities founded after the Civil War, in the post Reconstruction Era. These communities are in hazard prone areas, without spatially delineating boundaries and vanishing spatial patterns. The National Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, designed to train community members in basic emergency and response procedures, has gained traction since its development in 1993. This paper explores the relationship between the CERTs and these communities by spatial analysis using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The results show that Freedom colonies have limited access to these programs and supporting response agencies although they are disproportionately more vulnerable. Implicit in the place preservation of these historic communities are emergency management and disaster response capabilities. The paper recommends that the CERT program, with its multi-scalar approach and ability to integrate, can assist these communities in their predisaster recovery efforts as well as protection of cultural and heritage resources. This can be advanced through integrating the CERT program in current place preservation programs such as homecomings and homestead maintenance in closer proximity to Freedom Colonies.