Community Emergency Response Team
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a volunteer program that educates people about disaster preparedness. CERT is neighbors helping neighbors. Responses include community hazards, disaster response, fire safety, search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT members have the skills and knowledge to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an emergency event.
How CERT Training Works
Fort Lauderdale’s CERT is organized according to standardized incident management principles. As a CERT volunteer, you will work closely with emergency personnel and other members serving residents in your own neighborhood. If you choose to be involved further, you will be eligible for disaster assignments throughout the City. Once you have successfully completed your training, you will have a better understanding of the potential risks to your home, neighborhood and workplace. Knowledge of these risks enables members to mitigate, prepare, respond to, and recover from hazards in a more effective and efficient manner.
CERT training will enable you to provide critical emergency services, including:
- Establishing a command post
- Basic first aid
- Fire suppression
- Assessing assigned areas
- Performing search and rescue and triage
As a CERT member, you can also volunteer to assist with non-emergency projects that improve the safety and welfare of the community.
Courses
- Introduction to Emergency Preparedness
- Disaster Psychology and Operations
- Basic Fire Suppression
- Disaster Medical Operations I
- Disaster Medical Operations II
- Terrorism
- Search and Rescue
- Course Review and Graduation
Continuing Education Courses
Following graduation, CERT members are eligible to sign up for continuing education courses such as CPR, advanced medical techniques and refresher courses.
For more information about CERT, or to register for a class, please call the Domestic Preparedness & Emergency Management Bureau at 954-828-6700 or email at FTL.EM@fortlauderdale.gov..
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