Click to download your 2023 Year of Resilience Calendar!
In the event of an area-wide disaster, critical infrastructure and emergency services will be impacted. The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) academy trains residents to prepare for and respond to life-threatening events in their community. CERT is one of of the best ways you can prepare yourself and your family for emergencies, while simultaneously being involved in your community, joining an active group of ready-to-help volunteers. For more information, view the Los Altos Hills CERT webpage.
What Do CERT Members Do?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT members can mobilize neighborhood resources, deliver immediate assistance to victims, organize emergency communications, and provide support to first responders.
The Los Altos Hills County Fire District currently has over 150 trained CERT Members who meet regularly for training, education, and civic event support.
ARK / Emergency Supplies
CERTs also help the District manage, maintain, and operate the ARK. The Ark is a stationary command center that contains supplies needed to run crucial operations during a disaster to assist the residents of Los Altos Hills and the surrounding areas. These operations include HAM communications /IT area, Recon teams to assist with information gathering of life safety needs of the community, and medical aid (three critical operations needed during a disaster).
These operations are performed by the Los Altos Hills CERT volunteers. This command center contains vital zone mapping for critical infrastructure in Los Altos Hills, back-up power supply, and water supply.
The District also has two fully functioning mobile trailers that have similar functions as the ARK. When activated these trailers are ran by the Los Altos Hills CERT volunteers.
The District provides funding for all of the supplies as well as a CERT Coordinator who supports the volunteer program. The CERT Coordinator plans and implements disaster drills throughout the year. This is to practice command operations and functionality of the assigned personnel roles within the CERT volunteer program including HAM Radio, critical infrastructure teams, and medical aid operations.
How to Get Certified?
A hybrid CERT training has become available as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hybrid CERT training will include LIVE weekly online learning modules and in-person skills training sessions. Skills taught during the Academy include organizing resources, medical operations, basic search and rescue, how to use a fire extinguisher and damage assessment. Santa Clara County Fire Department has released their 2023 Hybrid CERT Academy. To join your local CERT today, view the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s Summer and Fall 2023 CERT Academy informational flyer.
Already a CERT and want to take a “REFRESHER” course? Santa Clara County Fire Department has released their 2023 CERT Refresher class schedule. All classes will be offered online. To learn more about and register for available refresher courses, view the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s 2023 CERT Refresher Courses informational flyer.
Are You a Teenager or do you have a Teenager Interested in becoming CERT certified? Head to our Teen CERT page to learn more!
Amateur Radio Classes and Licensing
Interested in becoming a part of the HAM amateur radio group? Everyone is welcome to take a licensing class. The Town of Los Altos Hills has an Emergency Communication Committee you could participate in to assist with Radio Communications in a disaster. There are many opportunities to take a class to become an amateur radio operator.
To sign up for the next “Ham Cram” in the area view the Bay Area Amateur Radio Society webpage.
To search for upcoming HAM CRAM classes offered in the area view the National Association for Amateur Radio Society’s “Find an exam session” webpage.
Want even more opportunities to learn emergency preparedness? To see what classes are coming up, view the Santa Clara County Fire Department’s Eventbrite page.
