The Gloucester CERT team visited Mathews on Tuesday to share information about their organization and determine whether there’s interest in forming a community emergency response team in the county.

Jane Wenner, Gloucester County’s public awareness and outreach coordinator, told those present at the meeting at the Mathews Volunteer Rescue Squad building in Hudgins that people often show up to help in disaster situations, but without training, they might not know what to do.

“You may be put to work sorting canned goods,” she said.

But with some training, some organization, and affiliation with an established group, people can be of real help. They understand how to handle basic emergencies and, perhaps just as important, how to stand down and stay out of the way when fire and rescue teams arrive.

Wenner said that CERT training is based on eight written modules developed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Participants learn the basics of such things a...