Community Education and Training for Disaster Preparedness

There are multiple options if you want to learn more about disaster preparedness, and each option has a different time commitment so you can learn as much as your schedule allows.  You can learn more about each offering by choosing one of the buttons below.

Community Disaster Education (CDE) Courses are a great place to start. They are free, one-hour presentations that teach introductory lessons on how to become prepared for a disaster. You can request a CDE to be given at your local community event, lunch hour, or other gathering.

Listos is a grassroots disaster preparedness program that has partnered with the City of Goleta. Listos offers 8-hour courses in Spanish and English and can be hosted in most community rooms. The Listos course is especially flexible and can be broken up to fit your group's needs. Click the 'Listos' button below to go to their website and learn more.

Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training is a 20-24 hour course that teaches residents how to work together following a disaster. CERT is a program designed to prepare your family and community in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Because emergency services personnel will not be able to help everyone immediately, CERT makes a difference by using the 24 hours of training in this class to save lives and protect property. 

The CERT training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available. With training and practice and by working as a team, individuals are able to do the greatest good for the greatest number after a disaster.

Goleta CERT team has made major accomplishments over the years, and click the 'CERT' button below to learn more about those accomplishments and to be placed on the waiting list for the next CERT course offering. Be the first to know about upcoming CERT classes! Sign up here to be added to the CERT interest/waiting list.  You do not have to become a volunteer after completing the course.

Frequently Asked Questions about CERT

Q: How long is the training? 
A: The Basic CERT National Training takes 20-24 hours of in class time to complete

Q: What is included in the training? 
A: The training consists of nine units that teach you to keep yourself safe while helping others.  CERT volunteers learn how to:

• Identify and anticipate hazards
• Reduce fire hazards in the home and workplace
• Use fire extinguishers to put out small fires
• Assist and talk to emergency responders
• Conduct light search and rescue
• Set up medical treatment areas
• Apply basic first aid techniques and reduce survivor stress.

Q: Is it safe? 
A: All training is conducted under supervision and in a safe environment.  The primary goal of the course is to learn how to keep someone out of harm's way and how to work in a team environment.

For additional information, please contract the CERT Coordinator at ESD.Training@cityofgoleta.org.