CERT program information and contact details
In 95% of emergencies, the victim or a bystander provides the first immediate assistance on the scene. Would you know what to do?
Purpose of the Program
Community Emergency Response Team training is a Federal Emergency Management Agency program (opens in a new tab) that educates residents about local hazards and trains them in lifesaving skills. When disasters overwhelm professional resources, trained CERT members help their neighborhoods and workplaces: assisting victims, organizing spontaneous volunteers, and collecting disaster intelligence to support responder priorities.
CERT strengthens partnerships between emergency management and response agencies and the community they serve—building readiness and the skills that save lives.
If a natural or man-made event overwhelms or delays responders, CERT members apply basic response and organizational skills to help save and sustain lives until help arrives. Members also volunteer for preparedness projects that improve community resilience.
How Does It Work?
The 22-hour CERT Basic Training is scheduled to fit the requesting organization or agency. Formats include two back-to-back weekends (Friday evening and Saturday) or a mix of weekday evenings and one weekend.
Nine units cover Disaster Preparedness, CERT Organization, Fire Safety and Utilities, Basic First Aid, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, and Terrorism and CERT.
Training Benefits
- Identify and anticipate hazards
- Reduce fire hazards at home and work
- Extinguish small fires
- Assist emergency responders
- Conduct light search and rescue
- Set up medical treatment areas
- Apply basic first aid
- Help reduce survivor stress