Overall CERT is a program of FEMA. Each state has an OEM as well as each county and town. At each level they are independent but work closely within the overall framework.
In the fall of 2016 all local CERT's were invited to the State Police Headquarters in Trenton to display some of the equipment that they have. It gave us all a chance to see what other towns are doing. There is also periodic county wide training for disasters as well as between adjacent towns.
At the individual level the mechanism to activate CERT can vary. Some towns have the CERT manager activate individuals. In other places (I am not sure if this is in NJ or other states) any individual that happens to be first on the scene of a disaster can activate CERT. There are protocols setup by FEMA on the proper procedures to use. Smaller towns don't necessarily have a very active CERT program.
The following link to FEMA will provide much more information:
https://www.ready.gov/community-emergency-response-team
"The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, which allows them to focus on more complex tasks. Through CERT, the capabilities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters is built and enhanced."
"At the same time, the CERT program was designed as a grassroots initiative and specifically structured so that the local and state program managers have the flexibility to form their programs in the way that best suits their communities. CERT volunteers are trained to respond safely, responsibly, and effectively to emergency situations, but they can also support their communities during non-emergency events as well. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide, with more than 600,000 individuals trained since CERT became a national program."