Austin’s Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (HSEM) is launching a pilot Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. A trio of CERT Basic classes will be offered over the summer to the public to provide opportunities to become trained in fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, shelter management, and team organization and disaster preparedness for hazards that threaten Central Texas.

“I am excited to see Austin HSEM offering advanced emergency preparedness training like CERT to the public,” said HSEM Director Jim Redick. “A prepared community is a resilient community. CERT is another way for us to connect with the public and help them ready themselves and their neighborhoods for disaster.”

WHAT IS CERT

Community Emergency Response Team programs offer a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that first responders can rely on during disaster situations. There are CERT programs in all 50 states, and the program has expanded to also include specialized CERTs for teenagers, college campuses, and the workplace.

CERT became a national program in 1993, but its origins date back to 1985 when it was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department following seeing the devastation and response to an earthquake in Mexico City. Two years later, following the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake the need to train volunteer civilians on responding to their immediate needs was confirmed, and the path to officially creating CERT began.

Participants who complete the course and training exercise will receive a certificate and CERT kit, which includes a number of preparedness and response tools and items and a CERT helmet and vest to identify volunteers on-site during response activities.

The launch of the CERT pilot is made possible through a grant, originally written and submitted by HSEM staffer Cindy Hood. Mrs. Hood passed away following a battle with cancer and the pilot program is dedicated in her memory.

HOW TO REGISTER

CERT Basic is 24 hours of instruction and exercises over multiple days. Please only sign up if you can commit to completing the course. In order to register, you must have a FEMA Student Identification Number (FEMA SID). If you do not have a FEMA SID, you may obtain one have one through the FEMA Student Identification System.  

Registration is through the Texas Division of Emergency Management Training Division Learning Management System. Courses can be found by clicking on the schedule tab. Direct links to register for HSEM’s CERT Basic classes are linked below at the bottom of this press release.

Although it is not required, before signing up for CERT Basic (G-317), students are encouraged to take the free, online FEMA Independent Study IS-317: Introduction to CERT. This course will provide some more background to CERT and examples of what CERT volunteers can do during emergencies.

CERT CLASS SCHEDULE

CERT classes will be offered three times this summer as part of the pilot program. Details can be found at ReadyCentralTexas.org.

June 27-29, 2025
Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Register HERE

July 28-31, 2025
Monday-Thursday, 1-7 p.m.
Register HERE

August 15-17, 2025
Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Register HERE