BEDFORD — After just three and a half months of planning, a new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has graduated its first class.

Ron Michaud, CERT director, said it normally takes up to a year-and-a-half to get a CERT up and running, but after getting approval from the Town Council in February, the idea just took off.

Michaud and his wife were part of the Goffstown CERT, and as Bedford residents, saw the need for a CERT in their own town.

Michaud said the Town Council, police department and fire department were all supportive of the idea.

“We couldn't believe how easy it was to get approved,” he said.

Twenty-one members of the Bedford community recently graduated from the eight-week course after 22 hours of training in such areas as fire safety, first aid, terrorism, and light search and rescue operations.

“It's a fantastic program,” said Michaud.

According to Police Chief John Bryfonski, the new CERT graduates are going through background checks and will complete an application as the final steps in becoming part of the Bedford CERT.

One of the first orders of business for the CERT will be to receive training in how to get an emergency shelter up and running, Bryfonski said.

“It sounds easy, but it involves a lot of different things,” he said.

Michaud said one of the considerations in terms of sheltering is what to do with pets, and said the issue is being examined at the state level.

“Eventually, shelters will have to be pet friendly,” he said. “Most people won't leave their houses if they have pets, even if it's 35 degrees inside the home.”

The CERT will also eventually be used for traffic control in different situations, and in search and rescue efforts.

Bryfonski sees several advantages to having a trained CERT in Bedford.

“They'll be able to assist us in any event where our staff is taxed,” he said.

Bryfonski said in an emergency the CERT will be an extra set of hands for the department.

“It will provide both the police department and fire department with the flexibility of having additional officers to perform the duties they were specifically trained for,” he said.

“It's huge for us,” Bryfonski said. “It's warming and wonderful to see the level of volunteerism, and it's a great thing to live and work in a community where people show a keen concern for their neighbors.”

A second class will be offered this summer. For more information, log on to bedfordnhcert.org.

kremillard@newstote.com