It gives me great pleasure to announce the implementation of the Atlanta Citizens Emergency Response Team (ACERT) to the City of Atlanta. This program serves to enhance the quality customer services that you deserve from the Atlanta Fire - Rescue Department.

The services rendered under this program will be provided to you at no cost by a group of professionally trained facilitators. This training will further enhance your knowledge, skills, and abilities of emergency preparedness. It will enable you to become self-sufficient should an emergency or disaster occur that prevents or delays the response of professional emergency workers.

The ACERT training program prepares thousands of Atlanta residents and workers to help themselves and others for up to 72 hours following a natural disaster or catastrophic event. As a team member, you will learn to apply basic skills to help sustain and save lives until help finally arrives.

Due to the recent catastrophic events such as 911 and Hurricane Katrina, we are proud to launch this initiative of emergency preparedness. I am certain that this service will be a tremendous asset that will strengthen and increase safety in our communities and workplaces.

Please join with our emergency response partners and me as we embrace the ACERT program throughout the Atlanta Community. This training initiative will equip us to become a “Safer Atlanta.”