Community Emergency Response Teams
CERT trains everyday community members to safely assist neighbors during disasters — reducing demands on professional responders and saving lives in the critical first hours.
What is CERT?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills — fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
CERT is sponsored by FEMA and administered through state and local emergency management agencies. There are over 2,700 local CERT programs across the United States, with more than 600,000 trained volunteers.
The CERT Training Program
The standard CERT Basic Training course is approximately 20 hours, typically delivered over several evenings or a weekend. Topics include:
Disaster Preparedness
Understanding local hazards, family preparedness planning, and the role of CERT in the community.
Fire Safety & Utility Controls
Fire chemistry, suppression techniques, and how to safely shut off utilities.
Disaster Medical Operations
Triage, treating life-threatening emergencies, and setting up a treatment area.
Light Search & Rescue
Search and rescue planning, safe rescue techniques, and victim documentation.
Team Organization
ICS basics, working within the incident command structure, and documentation.
Disaster Psychology
Understanding stress reactions in disaster survivors and responders.
What CERT members do
Immediate disaster response
In the first hours after a disaster, CERT members assist neighbors with light search and rescue, first aid, and evacuation before professional responders arrive.
Planned event support
CERT teams support community events — providing first aid stations, crowd management assistance, and emergency communications support.
Preparedness outreach
CERT members conduct preparedness education in their neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces, building community resilience before disasters strike.
EOC and shelter support
Activated CERT teams support Emergency Operations Centers and mass care shelters, freeing professional staff for more complex tasks.
How to join CERT
Find your local program
Use FEMA's CERT program locator at ready.gov/cert to find a program in your county or city.
Register for basic training
Contact your local program to register for the next CERT Basic Training course. Most programs are free.
Complete the course
Attend all training sessions and complete the hands-on exercises. You'll receive a CERT certificate upon completion.
Stay active and train
Join your local CERT team, attend refresher trainings, and participate in exercises and community events to keep your skills sharp.
Key resources
FEMA CERT Program
Official CERT program page with program locator and training materials
CERT Basic Training Curriculum
Free downloadable CERT training materials for participants and instructors
CERT Program Manager Toolkit
Resources for starting and managing a local CERT program
CERT on FEMA IS
FEMA IS-317: Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (online)