Community Awareness and Emergency Response (CAER) was a concept developed in 1985 by the Chemical Manufacturers Association in response to the tragedy at Bhopal, India where some 2000 people died or suffered serious health effects as a result of an accidental release of a poison gas from a chemical plant.

The objective of CAER, at that time, was to help people develop an agreed upon community plan for improved protection of lives and property in the event of chemical or natural disasters.

Steele County CAER was formed in January 1989 using the national CAER program as a guide.  Steele County CAER was assisted in its development by Wakota CAER, a similar organization in Washington and Dakota counties.

In a spirit of mutual interest and cooperation, Steele County CAER’s mission was to help integrate existing emergency response plans and procedures and to make the community aware of the hazard potential of chemicals.

In 2003, Steele County CAER believed that there was a need to restructure the organization and to examine its mission and purpose.  It was apparent that the membership had and needed to grow and because of that growth the mission and purpose also needed to expand.  The following is the result of the 2003 restructuring efforts.

The purpose of Steele County CAER is to provide a coordinated approach to disaster awareness and mobilization because disasters overwhelm the resources of any single community, organization or individual.

Steele County CAER is a group of county organizations and citizens that provides a comprehensive approach to public education, planning, prevention, emergency response and recovery in the event of natural or man-made disaster.  Steele County CAER will function as the Steele County Citizen Corp.