HSEM proudly offers and supports a variety of training and learning opportunities for members of the community to become more prepared. We are building a more resilient community through preparedness education programs.
Ready Together: The Basics of Emergency Preparedness for You, Your Family & Your Neighborhood (2 hours in person)
Austin's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) offers the community a basic emergency preparedness training resource: Ready Together, a classroom training on the basics of preparedness.
This free, 2-hour course is open to community members, regardless of preparedness knowledge. The course will provide an introduction from the experts on how to practice the four steps of emergency preparedness: making a plan, building a kit, knowing your neighbors, and staying informed. Attendees will gain practical knowledge on how to prepare their home, family, and community for a variety of hazards.
Ready Together is developed in partnership with Austin Watershed Protection Department, Ascension Seton, Go Austin/Vamos Austin, City of Austin Office of Resilience, University of Texas Medical Reserve Corps, and Austin Fire Department.
Ready Together is offered quarterly in 2025. See below for planned dates and locations. Click the date to register. There is no cost to register, but space is limited.
2025 Ready Together Community Preparedness Trainings Schedule
| Date* | Time* | Location* | Slideshow | Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurs., Feb. 13, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Southeast Branch | Winter Module En español |
Lotería Activity |
| Thurs., May 8, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Carver Branch | Wildfire Module En español |
Lotería Activity |
| Thurs., Jul. 10, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | Milwood Branch | Heat and Water Safety Module En español |
Lotería Activity |
| Thurs., Nov. 13, 2025 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. | University Hills Branch | Flood Module En español |
Lotería Activity |
*Dates and locations are subject to change. Check back regularly for updates.
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Thanks to an Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant, the City of Austin is offering Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic classes to the public!
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates community members about disaster preparedness through classroom and hands-on training.
Things to know:
- To sign up, you will need a FEMA Student Identification (SID) number. If you don’t have one yet, click here.
- Before signing up for CERT Basic (G-317), students are encouraged to take the free, online FEMA Independent Study IS-317: Introduction to CERT.
- CERT Basic (G-317) is a 24-hour class. Please only sign up if you can commit to completing the course.
- To learn more about CERT, please click here.
- At this time, we offer training only. The potential for a future City of Austin volunteer CERT program is still to be determined.
CERT Basic (G-317) Classes:
Please note: after you have created your FEMA SID, you will use it to create an account on the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Training site.
June 27-29, 2025
July 28-31, 2025
August 15-17, 2025
Homeland Security and Emergency Management: Training or Speaker Request
Please fill out this form to request a HSEM staff member to facilitate a training, serve on a panel, table at an event, or be a guest speaker.
Requests should be made at least 3 weeks in advance of the event date. Please allow 2-3 business days for a HSEM staff member to follow up.
