​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

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Dallas CERT training emphasizes accountability for yourself, your family, and your community by stressing the importance of personal preparedness and accountability. Our CERT volunteer members are expected to have an awareness of their neighborhoods, and to pre-determine possible evacuation sites that will facilitate effective, safe and rapid response ​to emergencies.​​

The CERT program teaches our volunteer members about disaster preparedness for hazards that affect our area.  The program trains you in basic disaster response skills (fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations).

CERT also offers a one day online course that serves as an introduction to the CERT Basic three day course.

Classes have been added to the 2023 schedule and more are expected to be added. Please view the schedule below and sign up via the "Apply Now" button for English classes and use the registration form/ link for Spanish classes. Stay tuned or visit us at Twitter.com/DallasCERT.

Apply Now

SPANISH CLASS: El curso de CERT ha sido postergado. Si está interesado en unirse a la lista de espera, envíe un correo electrónico a Cassandra.Wallace@dallas.gov.


City of Dallas
Community Emergency Response Team
Introduction to CERT – 231006 v1
Online Computer Based Training
Friday, October 6, 2023

  6:00 pm – 7:00 pm Disaster Preparedness
  7:00 pm – 7:30 pm Fire Safety
  7:30 pm – 9:00 pm Medical Trauma



City of Dallas
Community Emergency Response Team
Training Class – 231014
Dallas Fire-Rescue Training Academy
5000 Dolphin Rd., Dallas, TX 75223

Saturday, October 14, 2023
8:00 am –    10:30 am       Unit 1 Disaster Preparedness
10:30 am – 12:00 pm       Unit 6 Fire Safety
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm          Lunch
1:00 pm –    5:00 pm          Unit 3 Disaster Medical Operations Part 1
                                                       Unit 4 Disaster Medical Operations Part 2

Saturday, October 21, 2023
8:00 am –   12:00 pm        Unit 7 Search & Rescue
12:00 pm –1:00 pm           Lunch
1:00 pm –   2:30 pm           Unit 2 CERT Organization
2:30 pm –   3:30 pm           Unit 5 Psychology
3:30 pm –   4:45 pm           Unit 8 Terrorism
4:45 pm –   5:00 pm           Day 3 Morning Walkthrough

Saturday, October 28, 2023
8:00 am –   12:00 pm         Unit 9 Course Review & Final Exercise

*Module dates are subject to change- ALL sessions must be completed to obtain certificate. Missed sessions may be made up in future CERT classes.*

 
 

During a major emergency, when first responders are unable to respond immediately, CERT team members:

  • Assume leadership roles and coordinate spontaneous volunteers.
  • Assess situations and properly brief emergency responders when they arrive.
  • Recognize the potential hazards associated with a particular type of event and take appropriate action.
  • Assist others with the emotional distress related to major emergencies and disaster conditions.      
  • Administer first aid and/or triage casualties.

CERT members have proven themselves nationally to be an active and vital part of their communities preparedness and response capability. For example, CERT members have been used to:

  • Build a network of trained citizens within neighborhoods, businesses​, and places of worship to assist with a basic emergency response during emergencies or disasters.
  • Assist with evacuations and traffic control.
  • Promote community awareness of potential hazards and preparedness measures.
  • Supplement staffing at special events such as parades and public safety activities.
  • Portray victims in training exercises.
With the assistance of the Dallas Police Department's Interactive Community Policing Unit and established Crime Watch, Homeowner's Associations, and Civic Church groups, the program has grown phenomenally since 2007.  Many CERT participants already belong to other community service or social organizations, including Volunteers in Policing, Crime Watches, Neighborhood and Homeowner's Associations, NAACP, the Christian and Islamic Communities, and City of Dallas employees. 

 

Hear from members why they joined CERT and what it means to them.

Primarily as a result of this advertisement through multi-media (TV, radio, newspaper, and social media), we have representatives from virtually every sector of Dallas enrolled in the program. We anticipate continued success in training our citizens to take personal responsibility for themselves and their families and to support their community during an emergency or disaster in the City of Dallas.​​

​The Dallas CERT training program includes the following sessions:

  • Unit 1- Disaster Preparedness
  • Unit 2- CERT Organization
  • Unit 3- Disaster Medical Operations Part 1
  • Unit 4- Disaster Medical Operations Part 2
  • Unit 5-Psychology
  • Unit 6- Fire Safety
  • Unit 7- Light Search and Rescue
  • Unit 8- Terrorism

The final session includes a disaster simulation to allow volunteers to apply their newly acquired skills in a simulated environment. CERT Graduates receive a certificate of completion.