HomeFire & RescueCERTBackground

The CERT Concept
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the disaster preparedness division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

Training
The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for a disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family, and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy (NFA) adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

Course Benefits
The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to, and cope with, the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 states and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.