What would you do if a major disaster struck and help wasn’t immediately available?

Since its establishment in 1999, more than 3,000 people who live or work in Irvine have taken part in the City of Irvine’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. More than 2,000 of those graduates remain active volunteers.

In a City that spans 66 square miles, emergency services may be delayed or overwhelmed in a catastrophic disaster — for example, a major earthquake — leaving residents to care for themselves and their neighbors. CERT training helps bridge that gap by teaching participants how to be more self-reliant and prepared to safely navigate the days and weeks following a large-scale event.