CERT Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness

We keep hearing the refrain - it’s not ‘if’ but ‘when’, and although emergency personnel are the best equipped to handle emergencies, they may not be immediately available after a disaster, or too busy during one to respond to your specific call. Members of your community may have to rely on their own resources for water, food, first aid and shelter. This course on basic disaster preparedness teaches the first steps necessary to prepare you and your family to be equipped to handle whatever comes your way before and following a disaster; whether it is from an earthquake, fire, or the multitude of other events that may occur in the Bay Area.

Course Policies

To ensure that courses are safe and open to everyone, the following policies are in place:

1. Attendance is capped at 25-30 participants per class.
2. Participants may take each course once in a calendar year.
3. Failure to show up for a class will result in not being able to sign up for another CERT class for six months.
4. Two cancellations made within less than one week of the registered class time will result in not being able to sign up for another CERT class for six months. You can always cancel by emailing oes@berkeleyca.gov.
5. If you took this class last year, please consider leaving the space for someone new. We recommend taking the class every 3 years.