Community Emergency Response Team Training

Register for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this training will take place online each Thursday night ( 7-10 p.m.), September 10 through October 22. In-person exercises and graduation will be held at a later date to be determined, based on COVID-19 conditions.

Registration is required before attending the class. Registration to participate is open through Monday, September 7. Registrants will receive additional information on Tuesday, September 8. Participants are required to attend all classes and the final exercises in order to graduate.

The program is open to anyone 18 or older who lives, works, or owns a business in the City of Alexandria. For specific questions, please contact Ray Whatley at ray.whatley@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.5266.
 
The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail ray.whatley@alexandriava.gov or call 703.746.5266.

General Information

Join with other concerned members of the Alexandria community to learn how to increase your neighborhood's disaster readiness and support the first responders who serve your neighborhood. The CERT program educates you to prepare yourself, your family, and your community to address hazards that may impact the City of Alexandria and to respond to emergency situations. Learn basic disaster response skills such as damage assessment after a disaster, triage and giving first aid to victims, extinguishing small fires, performing light search and rescue, and providing much needed assistance in times of crisis. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders by providing immediate assistance to victims and organizing volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also participate in non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

I want to help! What do I need to do?

Attend the CERT training course to become a Team Member. You will learn how to prepare yourself, your family and your community for a disaster. Become familiar with tools to help you organize after a disaster and how to conduct triage and provide basic first aid. Learn to assess damage after the disaster, extinguish a small fire, conduct searches and rescue victims safely, and complete a small-scale disaster simulation.

I want to find out more!

The next basic CERT course will take place online in Fall 2020. For more information about CERT training, call or email Ray Whatley at 703.746.5266 or ray.whatley@alexandriava.gov.