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What is CERT?

CERT educates individuals about disaster preparedness for 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. Using training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT volunteers can assist others in their community following a disaster when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT volunteers are also encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking an active role in emergency preparedness projects.

Curriculum Overview

The National Basic CERT Training Course consists of the following subjects:

Unit 1 – Disaster Preparedness (3 hours)

Unit 2 – Fire Safety and Utility Controls (3 hours)

Unit 3 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part 1 (3 hours)

Unit 4 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part 2 (3 hours)

Unit 5 – Light Search and Rescue Operations (3 hours)

Unit 6 – CERT Organization (2 hours)

Unit 7 – Disaster Psychology (1 hour)

Unit 8 – Terrorism and CERT (1 hour)

Unit 9 – Course Review, Final Exam, & Disaster Simulation (3 hours)

SIGN UP INFORMATION & PROCEDURE

There is No Cost for the CERT Training or equipment provided to keep. You must fill out an application and pass a background check. We ask for a commitment to attend all classes and the graduation exercise to receive your CERT Certification.

Note: To continue as an active CERT, a requirement of at least 6 hours of “Continual Education Classes” or drill/exercises is considered the minimum for active status per year.

We do have a maximum amount of candidates we can take for each class. Each set of classes is arranged in 3 hour increments from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm each Tuesday and Thursday night for 3 weeks with a Saturday morning exercise & graduation.

THE CERT STORY & HISTORY

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.