CERT Unit 6: Cert Organization

You have made sure that your family is safe following a disaster, and are ready to check on your friends and neighbors in your neighborhood group. Learning the basic principles of on-scene management during the worst situations will maintain the safety of all CERT disaster workers and also guide the group through assigned activities created to provide effective rescue efforts. This unit is based on the nationwide Incident Command System (ICS) which is a proven management system used by emergency responders. This unit will teach clear leadership and organizational structure and teach the CERT volunteers how to collect disaster information and do the greatest good for the greatest number, while prioritizing rescuer safety. We will run through various scenarios to prepare your group for a real response when a disaster hits.

If you can organize your neighbors during a high stress situation like an earthquake, you can organize anything.

Course Polices

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're on the waiting list for this class, we will inform you via email if there is a spot open for you.
6. Please refrain from wearing scented products to this training.
7. If you took this class last year, please consider leaving the space for someone new. We recommend taking the class every 3 years.