Join CERT

Are you Ready?

CERT volunteers Los Angeles is considered the second largest city in the United States. With more than four million permanent residents, an average of nearly one million visitors per day, and more than 470 square miles of geography, that's a lot of responsibility for a Fire Department that has, on average, 1,000 firefighters on active duty each day. Typically, the ability for the city to respond to emergencies is excellent, earning some of the highest ratings from agencies that measure that type of thing. There are, however, certain instances where the city's first responders may not be able to get to you in a timely fashion. The most significant type of incident for such a possible delay is a major earthquake. But, there are others, too - floods, civil unrest, terror attacks are just a few that could lead to delays in emergency services.

But there are answers to such dilemmas. One of the best is called Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT. The CERT program originated in Los Angeles and now is used throughout the United States and in fact around the world.

Not quite ready? Watch Video.

Review the current list of CERT Courses.

If you'd like to become a member of CERT, please review the schedule and get started.

NOTE: Other communities have their own CERT programs. If you do not live in the City of Los Angeles, feel free to Google CERT to find the program nearest you. You may also wish to review the FEMA National Citizen Corps website.