Culver City CERT
Community Emergency Response Team
Purpose
About Us
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program was started by the Culver City Fire
Department in November 1997. The Culver City Community Emergency Response Team is an active part of the Culver City’s Emergency
Response Plan. Along with maintaining the skills necessary to assist our community in times of need, Culver City CERT proudly volunteers at events in an effort to support our community and
raise awareness of our Mission.
While the main purpose of CERT is to train citizens to take care of themselves, their families, and neighbors in the event of a disaster, many CERT Members in Culver City decide to volunteer to assist the city in times of emergency as well as disaster. Culver City CERT is under the control of the Culver City Fire Department and is run by a Board of Directors which serve a two year term.
Educate
The CERT Program educates people about disaster preparedness and response in order to take care of
their families and neighborhood in case of a disaster. The training includes basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can also decide to assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response
agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
In the event of an emergency the Culver City Fire Department can “activate” CERT to assist the city when needed. Members do not self “activate” unless there is a major earthquake effecting the city. They are contacted by the Culver City Fire Department to assist in the emergency.
Communicate
CERT Members also comprise the Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES), which maintains all HAM Radios in the CERT VEhicle and CIty Emergency Operations Center. These members hold FCC licenses for operating amateur radio. CCARES members operate Emergency Communications (E-COMM) during Drills and Emergencies in the city.
Visit the CCARES website here:
Sign Up
If you are interested in taking the CERT training please click the link below to get your FREE tickets.
Please make sure you will be able to commit yourself to attend ALL 3 Days of training
If you do not complete ALL of the training components you will need to make up the
Modules that you did not complete during a later class.
You will not be able to participate in CERT activities until you make up the missed training component(s).
CLICK HERE - CERT Spring 2020 Class Sign Up Link (March 7, 14, 21)
CLICK HERE - CERT Fall 2020 Class Sign Up Link (October 3, 10, 17)
I took CERT / I'm a member of Culver City CERT, Now What?
There are several things you do once you have completed your CERT training. While there is no requirement for additional training, we highly recommend you continue training; if you don't use it, you lose it. We have linked some ways for you to continue your preparedness efforts below. There are also 2-4 events per year where we need volunteers to help promote CC CERT and to talk about becoming disaster ready, these opportunities are emailed out or posted to Facebook.
Culver City CERT General Meetings - FREE
There are 4 General Meetings per year - February, May, September, and November. These meetings are listed in the Calendar on this site, and we do mini-refreshers and have guest speakers during these meetings, to help keep your skills sharp.
Thursday February 6, 2020 - 7pm-9pm
Thursday May 7, 2020 - 7pm-9pm
Thursday September 3, 2020 - 7pm-9pm
Thursday November 5, 2020 - 7pm-9pm
Culver City CERT Drills / Refresher - FREE
Each year CERT has two final drill, one each of our Spring, and Fall CERT classes. Graduates are always invited back to participate in the drill as volunteer victims to help provide realism to our students, volunteer responders to gain extra experience, or to be the Incident Commander to further your CERT abilities.
Since 2017 we have been having an annual refresher usually in June, but sometimes in September. This is not required but it is highly encouraged that you attend. This is a one-day refresher 9am - 130pm, filled with minimal lectures, and lots of skills practice.
The 2020 Refresher will be Saturday September 12, 2020. We will have a sign up form posted shortly.
The Great California Shake Out - FREE
This is an annual event in October, you can sign up using the link below and participate at work, at school, or anywhere you are at 10:17AM. Culver City CERT also participates in a drill on this day as well. The Great California Shake Out will be Thursday October 15, 2020
The Great California Shake Out Home Page
Follow us on Social Media to stay updated - FREE
The easiest way to stay connected and continue to train is to follow Culver City CERT on Social Media. We often post opportunities to volunteer as well as information about upcoming drills and events in the city and with our partner cities on Facebook.
Incident Command Training - FREE - Online Courses through FEMA
Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS 200
Stop The Bleed - FREE
CPR/AED/Basic First Aid Classes - $$
American Heart Association - Class Finder
American Red Cross - Class Finder
American Safety and Health Institute - Class Finder
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible to take the training?
The training is free and available to residents of Culver City and those who work in Culver City. Non-Culver City residents may also attend if they live in an area with a CERT Program and space is available.
What is involved in the Training?
The 21 hours of training, divided into three classes, includes an Introduction to Disaster Response, Disaster Medical Operations, Fire Suppression, Light Search and Rescue, Disaster Psychology, Hazardous Materials, Terrorism Awareness and Incident Command. The training is “hands on” requiring students to apply what they learn in class. There is a “mock earthquake” drill on the last day where students practice everything they learned in training.
The course is conducted Saturdays; 9am to 4pm.
Is there an age minimum?
Participants must be a minimum of 16 years of age.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos Taken By CERT Members Stephanie Benjamin & Erik Mayer
RECENT WORK
November General Meeting CCPD Active Shooter Lecture 2019
Chief White Addresses CERT Membership 2019
October
Shake Out Drill 2019
Fall CERT Class 2019
September
CERT Refresher 2019
August
Fiesta La Ballona 2019
May
Fire Service Day 2019
May General Meeting 2019 Woolsey Fire Review
Spring
CERT Class 2019 Cribbing & Shoring
February General Meeting 2019 Lifts & Carries Review
CCARES
Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service
About Us
The Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES) is a volunteer organization of area residents who have obtained an FCC amateur radio license. CCARES works with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), whom they are directly affiliated with, the Culver City Fire Department, and the Culver City Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) to provide communication in case of emergencies that might disable telephone or cellular service. Community members are encouraged to study for and take the 35 question test required for this FCC radio license, acquire a radio and join us in assisting with vital inter-neighborhood and Culver City wide communications in cases of widespread disaster or emergency.
Culver City Amateur Radio Emergency Service (CCARES) - Website
CCARES General Meeting
December 14th, 2019
Location: Garden Room at Vets Memorial please check the calendar for more info.
CCARES Club Day
December 21st, 2019
Location: 9600 Culver Blvd. For more information please check the calendar.
How do I get involved?
Contact us at info@ccares.net if you are or would like to become a licensed Amateur Radio Operator and will agree to support CCARES during disaster operations.
Frequencies
The K6CCR repeater is located near the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook and is on:
445.6 MHz, CTCSS code 131.8, standard offset of -5 MHz.
Club Day Activity plan:
- 10a – 10:30a: General housekeeping & check of the systems in the radio room.
- 10:30a – 10:45a: A short check-in Net utilizing members who are on hand to conduct the net. We will announce any activities we have planned for the day and invite folks to join us. We might also have variants of the net exploring Simplex, Winlink & ARDEN check-ins as time goes on.
- The focus of club day and subjects covered will change from month to month, some days we will perform hands-on work with equipment, some days will involve field work with radios & some with outside presenters.
BLOG
Executive Board
President
Joel Falter is the President of the Culver City CERT Executive Board.
President@CulverCityCERT.org
Vice President
Michael Landau is the Vice President of the Culver City CERT Executive Board.
VP@CulverCityCERT.org
Treasurer
Steven O'Donnell is the Treasurer of the Culver City CERT Executive Board.
Treasurer@CulverCityCERT.org
Member-At-Large
Barbara Vineis is the Member At Large of the Culver City CERT
Executive Board.
MAL@CulverCityCERT.org
Secretary
Mia Cramer is the Secretary of the Culver City CERT Executive Board.
Secretary@CulverCityCERT.org
Operations Manager
Erik Mayer is the Operations Manager.
Operations@CulverCityCERT.org
Logistics Manager
Ian Cousineau is the Logistics Manager.
Logistics@CulverCityCERT.org
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Stephanie Benjamin is the Public Information Officer (PIO).
PIO@CulverCityCERT.org
District 1 Manager
Kathleen O'Donnell is the District 1 Manager.
District1@CulverCityCERT.org
District 2 Manager
Marty Zisner is the District 2 Manager.
District2@CulverCityCERT.org
District 3 Manager
Michael Landau is the District 3 Manager.
District3@CulverCityCERT.org
Training Manager
Earle Hartling is the Training Manager.
Training@CulverCityCERT.org
Fundraising Manager
Valerie Hernandez is the Fundraising Manager.
Fundraising@CulverCityCERT.org
CONTACT US
Call or email us with any questions you may have.
310.253.5900
info@culvercitycert.org