Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to begin Jan 13

Published on December 04, 2025

Learn basic disaster and emergency response skills for the things likely to impact Flagler County. This includes fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and basic first aid – all taught through the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) nationally-certified training program, which begins on January 13. It’s free.

“The program is an invaluable partnership between the community and professional first responders,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “CERT provides a consistent, nationwide approach to disaster volunteer training and organization. Previous experience is not necessary – just a desire to learn and help others.”

Registration – which is required for this 30-hour course that meets 1 to 4 p.m. p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Emergency Operations Center through January 28 – can be accessed by going to www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency and then selecting “Community Training” from the menu. The course concludes on Thursday, January 29 with a full day of course review, final exam, disaster simulation, and graduation.

Flagler County’s CERT program is made possible through a partnership between Emergency Management and the nonprofit Flagler Volunteer Services.

“It is a way to improve countywide preparedness by providing members of our community with additional knowledge and tools to get ready for and respond to emergencies and disasters,” Lord said. “When our residents are trained in these basic disaster skills, it allows neighbors to help each other while our first responders are focusing on the most critical needs in a disaster.”

The Winter 2026 CERT program will educate residents about topics such as: Disaster Preparedness; CERT Organization; Disaster Medical Operations; Disaster Psychology; Fire Safety and Utility Controls; Light Search and Rescue; and CERT & Terrorism. The crowning events are Disaster Simulation and Graduation on the last day of the program.

Registration is required, and attendance at all sessions is necessary to receive certification. Digital participant manuals, CERT Backpacks and all course materials are provided. Paper Manuals are available for $5 each. A free T-shirt and CERT ID will be handed out to all graduates.

For more information about this Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, go to www.flaglercounty.gov/emergency and select “Community Training” from the menu, or for those without Internet access, call 386-313-4200 for assistance. Questions should be directed to EOC@FlaglerCounty.gov.

Follow Flagler County Emergency Management on a variety of social media channels:

• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/FlaglerEOC

• X (formerly Twitter): www.Twitter.com/FlaglerEOC

• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/FlaglerEOC

Follow Flagler County Government on Facebook: www.facebook.com/FlaglerCountyGovernment.