Become a CERT Volunteer
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program offers members of the public an opportunity to learn basic hands-on disaster response techniques and life-saving skills to utilize in their own homes and neighborhoods. This 100% volunteer program was developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985 and implemented nationally by FEMA in 1993. CERT members train for a minimum 27 hours of classroom and 3 hours hands on practical skills in the following areas before becoming a registered volunteer: Disaster preparedness Fire safety & utility controls Light search and rescue Team organization Disaster psychology Terrorism response Disaster medical operations
- Organization
- SOAR Chicago
- When
- Ongoing
- Where
- City of Chicago
- Address
- 2940 N. Spaulding Ave., Unit 3, Chicago, IL 60618
Volunteer positions
Upon completion of the class, participants have the option to become a Chicago Citizen Corps CERT volunteer and assist professional emergency services in various deployments. Past participants have played a role in emergency exercises and assisted the City of Chicago during various large-scale emergencies such as the response to COVID-19, Emergency Operations Center activations, and other natural disasters. Other special events that CERT volunteers assist in are the Chicago Air and Water Show, St. Patrick’s River Dyeing, Chicago Marathon, Summertime beach safety patrols, and more.
READY TO HELP?
Volunteer sign-up and final logistics are handled by SOAR Chicago.
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Verified: GoodNeighbor checked the organizer’s official source on October 13, 2026. Confirm logistics directly with the organizer.