Garden Grove CERT
Click here to register for Garden Grove 2024 CERT Academy. Registration deadline is Thursday, September 1, 2024.
National Preparedness Month empowers individuals, families, small businesses and communities to prepare for natural and man-made disasters. Learn how to make a plan, build a kit, and more by visiting ready.gov.
Administered by the Garden Grove Police Department, the Garden Grove Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a volunteer organization trained in disaster preparedness and life-saving skills.
Our Program
During a catastrophic event or disaster, the City’s emergency services may be delayed or overwhelmed, potentially leaving neighborhoods and businesses to provide their own basic life safety support until professional responders arrive. As a trained CERT member, you will have the knowledge and skills to help your family, friends and community, as well as assist first responders.
Members are trained to prepare for, respond to and recover from a disaster. When activated, CERT members can help augment first responders by performing such duties as damage assessments, welfare checks on elderly and at risk residents, shelter support, emergency communications and amateur (HAM) radio support, as well as responsibilities in the City Emergency Operation Center (EOC) and other tasks as requested by City emergency responders.
Beyond Disasters
In addition to disaster preparedness, members are called upon to assist with numerous community programs and events in the city, including food distributions, City Hall docent duties, City Council meeting registration, and first-aid support at special events.
CERT members bring varied professional backgrounds and unique skill sets which contribute to the support of program administration and community outreach needs.
CERT Training
The CERT Training Academy is open to residents and business owners/employees of Garden Grove, is held twice a year, and uses a nationally recognized 20-hour curriculum approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In addition to the required training, CERT members are also certified in CPR/1st aid/AED. This training will be offered separately, after the Academy.
As a component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, and Citizen Corps, the curriculum trains participants in basic disaster response skills:
- Identify and anticipate hazards in the community
- Reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace
- Extinguish small fires
- Assist emergency responders
- Conduct light search and rescue operations
- Set up medical treatment areas
- Provide disaster first aid
- Help reduce survivor stress
After completing the 20 hours and a short online FEMA course, members are recognized as program graduates and receive a certificate of completion, a CERT T-shirt and sworn in as Disaster Service Workers. Additional training opportunities for advanced courses are provided on an annual basis to those who wish to become further involved in community-wide emergency preparedness efforts and CERT leadership team.
***As of 2024, we are also accepting minors 14 yrs+ (accompanied by a legal guardian).
Upcoming Events
2024 CERT Academy (Fall)
Date and Time
Wednesday, September 11th, 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, September 18th, 6pm-9pm
Wednesday, September 25th, 6pm-9pm
Saturday, September 28th, 9am-1pm
Location
TBD
Cost
Free
Registration
To register, fill out the application at GG 2024 CERT Academy Application. Registration deadline is September 5, 2024.
Become a Member
The Garden Grove CERT program is open to all Garden Grove residents and business owners, 18 years of age or older.
If you're interested in becoming a certified Garden Grove CERT member please create an account at:
Create GG CERT Account Using MyImpactPage.com
Questions can be emailed to cert@ggcity.org.