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:

http://ccares.net/.

Sign Up

If you are interested in taking the CERT training complete the form below and choose one of the
upcoming classes. Find a course where you will be able to commit yourself to attend ALL of the training
dates and times. 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 any CERT
activities until you make up the missed training component(s).

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. Participants must be a minimum of 16 years of age. 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 22 hours of training, divided into four 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 actually do what they learn in class. There is a “mock earthquake” drill on the last day where students apply all of the training that they have learned.

The course is conducted on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4 pm.