What is CERT?
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training gives residents practical skills to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors before professional responders arrive. The curriculum covers disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, team organization, and disaster psychology. Graduates learn to size up scenes, communicate clearly, and act safely.
How CERT Supports the Monterey Peninsula
The Monterey Peninsula faces a range of natural and human-caused hazards. CERT volunteers are trained to support local response partners during:
- Earthquakes — basic damage assessment, assisting neighbors, and reporting priorities
- Tsunamis and coastal surge — support for evacuation routes, assembly points, and safety messaging
- Winter storms and floods — welfare checks, sandbag operations, and non-technical support at shelters
- Downed power lines and outages — scene safety, traffic volunteers as assigned, and situational reporting
- Wildfire smoke and evacuations — neighborhood organization, go-bag readiness, and information sharing
- Community events — preparedness education, first aid basics, and volunteer coordination
Cribbing and Prying — A Core CERT Skill
Light search and rescue includes cribbing and prying, the safe method for lifting a heavy load to free a trapped person using simple tools and a stable box-like stack called a crib. Proper cribbing uses a lift-an-inch, crib-an-inch technique to keep the load supported. Teams work in pairs, communicate continuously, and never rush. Safety and stability come first.
Reference: CERT Cribbing Techniques
Download the CERT Cribbing and Prying Techniques PDF
By the Numbers
- 18 new graduates on October 25, 2025
- 24 hours of FEMA Basic CERT training
- 3 consecutive Saturdays of hands-on learning
Join the Next Training
Interested in building skills and serving your neighbors? Watch for upcoming classes on our Training and Events page. You will learn how to prepare your household, help during local incidents, and support the wider community when it matters most.
Spring 2026 CERT Class (Weekend Series)
Schedule: Three consecutive Saturdays, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- February 7, 2026
- February 14, 2026
- February 21, 2026
Who Can Enroll
Participants must be residents of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Carmel, Carmel Valley, Pebble Beach, Sand City, Defense Language Institute, Naval Postgraduate School, or adjacent communities. All classes are taught in Monterey.
How to Sign Up
Anyone may enroll by sending an email of interest to certmonterey@gmail.com. Please include:
- Full Name
- Your Physical Address
- Email you most commonly use
- Cell and home phone numbers
You will receive a confirmation with class location and further details. Monterey CERT classes typically occur in March and September. CERT training is offered three times a year in a weekend format. The weekend series occurs over three consecutive Saturdays.
Monterey CERT training is sponsored and paid for by the City of Monterey.
This class provides 24 hours of community service credit to high school students!
About CERV
Our Mission
CERV builds resilient communities by empowering individuals, volunteers, and local organizations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, with a focus on the most vulnerable. We deliver culturally inclusive training, direct support, and strategic partnerships that strengthen emergency readiness across Monterey County and beyond.
Our Vision
We envision a future where all communities, regardless of language, ability, or income, are disaster ready and connected through trust, equity, and resilience.
CERV supports CERT.
