Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program teaches volunteers about disaster preparedness for emergencies in their communities.

CERT trains volunteers in basic emergency response skills, such as:

  • Fire safety
  • Easy search and rescue
  • Group organization
  • Emergency medical operations

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Find a local program, register your team and stay connected CERT website.

The CERT program provides a nationally consistent set of volunteer training and organization that professional emergency responders can rely on, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

CERT in action

The video below details the experience on the Community Emergency Response Team. or see 30 second overview A short clip to share with your community.

Community Emergency Response Team members from California, Florida and Texas explain how they come together to prepare their communities and help their neighbors during an emergency.

CERT Basic Training

CERT Basic Training includes research-based guidance on CERT programs to teach members what to do before, during and after a potential disaster in their community.

Materials included in the training include:

  • Teacher’s instructions
  • Participant guidelines
  • Accidental attachment slide decks

Independent study

Whether you’re already in the CERT program or want to learn more before joining, these Emergency Management Institute (EMI) interactive web courses are free and available to anyone.

Alert - Information

Leadership training
CERT members in leadership positions are encouraged to take the CERT Train-the-Trainer and Program Manager courses. Visit Emergency Management Institute (EMI) Learn more and register.

Exercises and exercises

Drills are an excellent opportunity for CERT programs to practice, review, and improve emergency response plans while engaging volunteers and refreshing concepts and skills learned in CERT training.

These exercises are developed in accordance with the principles outlined in the domestic manual and the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program. It is imperative that CERT programs tailor their training to reflect actual events that may affect their communities.

of CERT Accountability Guide It is provided for general information purposes only, and is intended to educate CERT program managers, volunteers, sponsoring agencies, and legal counsel about liability and risk management.

Custom CERT programs

In addition to the core CERT program, CERT offers programs tailored to youth, as well as for workplace and campus-specific situations.

Teen CERT can support the school’s emergency operations plan and assist emergency services personnel, providing valuable augmentation capabilities to local first responders when needed.

A campus CERT program can support and enhance existing capabilities, and CERT volunteers can participate in efforts to increase the preparedness and resilience of the campus community.

A workplace CERT program can support and enhance existing capabilities, and CERT volunteers can participate in efforts to enhance workplace and community preparedness and resilience.

History of CERT

Logo: Community Emergency Response TeamThe CERT concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985. The 1987 Whittier earthquake highlighted California’s high risk of disaster. He also confirmed the need to train civilians to meet their immediate needs.

In the year In 1993, CERT became a national program. There are now CERT programs in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and US states. Each is unique to the community and all are important to building a culture of preparedness in the United States. There are more than 2,700 local CERT programs nationwide and more than 600,000 people have been trained since CERT became a national program.

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