Community Emergency Response Team(CERT) was created in 1985 by the Los Angeles City Fire Department. The program was modeled after the Japanese Neighborhood Training that was created for communities to cope with the aftermath of earthquakes.
In 1993 FEMA noticed the success of the Los Angeles program and adopted the program nation wide. In addition, after the catastrophic events of September 11, 2001, President George W.Bush made CERT an intergral part of the Citizen Corps.

The Atlanta Citizens Emergency Response Team (ACERT) program was borne from CERT. We have tailored it for those who work, live, and play in Atlanta. This program is designed to educate community members about the hazards and potential disasters that may effect our communities and workplaces. If a disastrous event overwhelms or delays the response of public safety professionals, ACERT members can help themselves and others by applying the basic response and organizational techniques that they learned during training. These skills can help save and sustain lives following a disaster and until professional help arrives. Acquired skills may also be applied to everyday emergency situations.

Community and Workplace team members are considered to be part of the response capability for their neighborhood or workplace. They participate in 20 hours of basic and are strongly encouraged to continue their involvement by attending supplemental training, participating in exercises, and volunteering for emergency related projects to better prepare themselves and to improve community emergency preparedness.

Objectives

• To educate members about the various disasters and hazards which may affect their community and/or worplace.
• To organize neighborhood and workplace response teams for rapid and effective intervention following a disasterous event.
• To train teams in basic response and solid decision-making skills that can be used to enhance their survival skills and to effectively help others.

TARGET Audience:

• Neighborhood Associations
• Businesses
• Faith Based Communities
• Scouting Organizations
• Colleges, High Schools - Staff and Students
• Clubs and Other Organizations

*NOTE: ACERT is designed for GROUPS only.

Modules include:

• Disaster Preparedness
• Cert Organization and Fire Safety
• CPR
• Medical Disaster Operations

Atlanta Fire-Rescue (AFR) has teamed up with the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to offer ACERT training. Moreover, ACERT training promotes a partnering effort between AFR and the community that we serve.