What is CERT?

If a major earthquake (or any disaster) hits, do you …

• have enough supplies for a minimum of 72 hours up to an entire month for all family members, including pets?
• know how to turn off the gas?
• know how to safely turn off the power?
• know how to apply first aid?
• have enough water for all of your family and your pets?
• have provisions for living outside your home for a length of time if the structure is compromised?

It is important to know, if a major disaster occurs, the LAFD, paramedics, police…WILL NOT COME! They will be deployed FIRST to major incidents such as collapsed buildings. That is why you constantly hear…You MUST be prepared to take care of yourself. In the CERT course they say…“The Greatest Good for the Greatest Number of People.” When you are trained, you are far more equipped to deal with your circumstances without needing aid from outside sources.

CERT members are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. You will learn how to prepare for emergencies, what supplies you should NOW have in your house, how much food, how much water but most importantly, how to protect your family in an emergency!

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The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-risk, all-hazard training. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, your neighbors and your neighborhood in an emergency situation.

CERT members receive 17 1/2 hours (one day a week for seven weeks) of initial training.

CERT is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or over.

Classes are taught year-round, Monday-Friday, morning, afternoon, or evening. We will come to your location. Classes can be held anywhere in the City of Los Angeles. Classes outside of LA City require special preapproval.

For the latest classes, CLICK HERE! to get full information.

To schedule a class for your group, you need a minimum of 20 people to be trained and a location to hold the training. Then call the LAFD Community Emergency Response Team Unit at 213-202-3136.

LAFD CERT Drill at Hansen Dam, Los Angeles, CA

Here is a great example of just one of the drills the LAFD CERT Unit performs in their constant training. Have you taken the CERT training? If so, you can also participate in any of the year-round drills. For information on Drills, Refreshers, and of course the first level CERT training, please visit: https://www.cert-la.com/eventbrite.

Video by John Gilbert, a.c.e.