BCERT has become an even more important player in the overall public safety arena in our community.

Our goal, said Gary, is to maintain the role and primary focus of the BCERT organization while increasing the opportunities of our BCERT members to expand their participation in the Public Safety of Big Canoe. In the process we will greatly expand and enhance the coordination between the two groups who today, while working towards the same basic goal of emergency response, do so in two disparate organization.

BCERT, founded in September of 2000 by a group of concerned Big Canoe residents, was organized to provide directional support to outside responding firefighters and other emergency personnel during emergency events. Over time, BCERT’s role expanded into providing Rehab support (food, water, etc.) to emergency personnel during fire and other emergency events inside the gates. Today, BCERT has become an even more important player in the overall public safety arena and frequently works with the Public Safety Department during non-emergency events such as the Tour of Homes, Fourth of July and Oktoberfest.

Not generally known is that BCERT has never had a formal home. It is not affiliated with the POA, HOA, Chapel or any other formal organization. With the merger, BCERT will now be part of a formal entity since the Big Canoe Volunteer Fire Department (BCVFD, Inc) is a legal nonprofit corporation of Georgia with the intent of becoming a Federal tax exempt 501C3 corporation. The newly combined organization, effective January 1, 2010, will have four officers and three additional directors. They are president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer and a director of volunteer firefighters, director of BCERT and a director at large.

Any one wishing to become a member of BCERT (BCVFD) should contact Gary Rhodus at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and be sure to visit our web-site at www.bcert.net.