What is CERT? The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) began promoting nationwide use of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) concept in 1994 from the model created by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Since then, CERT programs have been established in hundreds of communities nationwide.

The purpose of CERT is to train people living in Alameda County to take care of themselves, their families and their neighbors in the event of a disaster.

Why Do We Need CERT? After several large scale disasters such as 9/11, the Oakland Hills Fire and the Loma Prieta earthquake, there was a realization that not all emergency services personnel will be able to reach everyone right away. Therefore, communities may have to tend to their own minor emergencies before help arrives.

CERT Training - CERT members are taught by Alameda County Fire Department staff and its Reserves. CERT members are taught basic fire suppression, utility control, light search and rescue, triage and shock treatment. Other topics include putting together your own disaster kit, disaster psychology and disaster incident management. The training involves attending all six evening sessions for a total of ~20 hours. The training format is lectures, interactive skills based training, and it concludes with a hands-on exercise to practice the skills that were just learned.

Who can be a CERT Instructor?Any level ACFD Reserve who wants to give back to the community, who wants to receive community service hours, learn basic teaching skills, become a better speaker and to build on resume experience. Most Bay Area Fire Departments pay on-line staff to teach CERT, so this is a great skill set to bring with you!

Who do we teach?

Neighborhood Watch, Home Owner's Associations, community based organizations, civic or advocacy groups, condominium owners and dense urban housing complex residents.

To register for the class, please click the "Register" button at the top of the page.

For any further questions, please contact the ACFD CERT Coordinator with the information below.

When: 6 Consecutive Thursdays starting January 19^th, from 6:30-9:30pm

Dates: January 19^th, 26^th, February 2^nd, 9^th, 16^th, and 23^rd

Where: San Leandro Library, 300 Estudillo Ave, San Leandro CA

More Info: By phone (510-618-3492) or by email:

CERT@acgov.org