For up to date information, visit the Scripps Ranch CERT site at www.scrippsranchcert.org

During the first few hours and days after a disaster strikes, emergency services could be overwhelmed, leaving families, neighborhoods and businesses on their own for hours or days. After the devastating Cedar fire of October 2003, the City of San Diego sought new solutions to meet this vital need. A new community based program called Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was developed by the Fire-Rescue department. CERT San Diego helped citizens become a part of the solution in their own communities. The program took advantage of the outpouring of volunteers that that offered to help in disasters such as the Cedar fire, earthquakes and 9/11.

San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel train and empower citizens in safe, effective neighborhood CERT teams. CERT San Diego instructors teach citizens to take life-saving action to help families, neighbors, businesses and communities get through the first few hours or days when emergency services are overwhelmed. [Provided by the City of San Diego, http://www.sandiego.gov/fireandems/cert/]