CERT

The Huntington Beach Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program was founded in 1991. It has now expanded to all 50 states as a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) endorsed training program. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations. CERT prepares you to help yourself, your family, your neighbors and your community in the event of a disaster.

Huntington Beach has highly trained and well-equipped public safety personnel, but if a major disaster occurs, fire and police personnel will not be able to immediately respond to all calls for help. It could take more than 72-hours before public safety personnel would be able respond to your home or business during a major disaster.

CERT volunteers are trained to prepare for and respond to a disaster until first responders arrive.  Through hands-on training, practice and realistic exercises, CERT members:

• Learn how to safely respond to manmade and natural disasters
• Help organize basic disaster response
• Promote preparedness by hosting and participating in community events

In Huntington Beach, CERT volunteers routinely support to the Fire and Police Departments with tasks such as sandbagging, providing first aid at major events, helping with communications and more. In the event of a disaster, a CERT volunteer would first take care of self, family, and then neighbors. If requested, they could also report to the city and perform duties such as providing damage assessment information, sheltering support, checking on the frail and elderly, and other tasks as requested by the Fire and Police Departments. 

In order to become a CERT volunteer, you must complete a 20 hour FEMA/CERT training class. The class is typically held twice each year in Huntington Beach. In addition, you must take one very short on-line FEMA class. Upon successfully completion both items, you can become a CERT volunteer.  To register for the class, click here or visit the On Line Class Registration link noted on the left side column of this page. 

CERT Class Registration

In the 20 Hour CERT Training classes you will learn how to:

• Prepare your home and family for a disaster
• Perform basic first aid and CPR
• Safely search a building and rescue trapped victims
• Put out small fires using a fire extinguisher
• Survive outdoors if you cannot return to your home because it is unsafe
• Use all these skills together and create a Neighborhood CERT Disaster Team