Preparing for Disaster Do you know what to do in the event of a disaster? Do you know how to prepare before the disaster occurs? If your answer to these questions is no, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training will provide those skills. What is CERT? CERT is a FEMA program focused on training community members on how to safely prepare to and respond to disasters. CERT training emphasizes on how to teach community members basic live saving disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search rescue and team organization. The CERT program was initiated by Los Angeles City Fire Department in 1985, after the Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987. During a catastrophic event, professional disaster assistant may not be immediately available; therefore, there is a need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs during an emergency. CERT training prepares community members to be ready during a disaster. This training empowers community members by teaching skills they can then use to respond safely and effectively when responding to an emergency situation while keeping themselves, their families and neighborhoods safe. The City of Grand Terrace would like to establish a CERT program. If you are interested in becoming part of a Grand Terrace CERT program please contact Assistant Planner Haide Aguirre at haguirre@grandterrace-ca.gov or (909) 824-6621 ext. 247.