CERT
What is CERT?
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
This program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

CERT Volunteers are encouraged to use this time to ensure their family’s safety and complete or renew their online training. California Volunteers has provided these flyers for volunteers and ways we can help.
Helpful Links
The CERT Basic Course is a 20-hour course that is taught classroom-style with hands-on activities. Participants perform tasks such as use a fire extinguisher, practice bandaging and splinting, and lifting large objects using cribbing techniques. The class ends with a disaster simulation that gives participant the chance to put their new skills into practice.
Participants are taught to be able to take care of themselves, their family, and neighbors in the event of a disaster…in that order. Therefore, if a person just wants to take the class so they can take care of themselves and their family, they will not be turned away.
CERT volunteers under their sponsoring agency’s leadership have helped during emergencies and disasters such as flooding events and the Ridgecrest Earthquake.
CERT volunteers also support planned events like large races and parades. CERT volunteers also provide information at community events to help everybody prepare for a disaster.
If you are still interested, locate a CERT volunteer team near you to inquire about the next available CERT Basic Course. Since the curriculum is standardized, you can attend a class in a neighboring area and still join your local team.
Where are the Kern County CERT Teams?

Crystal Jackson, CERT Coordinator, Kern County Fire
661.391.7115 (w) 661-301-7111(c)
David Orr, Coordinator, dorr@calcityfire.us
Brenda Dawson, Communications Lead, bredawson@live.com
Ryan Marrone, Sgt. RPD, rmarrone@ridgecrest-ca.gov
David Shaw, Communications Lead, tehachapicert@gmail.com
Facebook – TehachapiCERT
TechachapiCERT.com
Tom Klein, Coordinator, krvcert@yahoo.com
Dean Ott, Asst Coordinator, ott_dean@yahoo.com
Facebook – cert Kern River Valley
Eric Sill, Coordinator, eric.sill@wonderful.com
Gary Garrahan, Asst. Coordinator, gary.garrahan@wonderful.com
Kevin Woten, Coordinator, wotens@hughes.net
Mountain Communities CERT Team
Po box 723 Frazier Park Ca. 93225
Facebook: mountain communities cert team
Crystal Jackson, CERT Coordinator, Kern County Fire
661.391.7115 (w) 661-301-7111(c)
Crystal Jackson, Kern County CERT Coordinator, crjackson@kerncountyfire.org
Dominque Dieken, Coordinator, StallionSpringsCERT1@gmail.com
David Burt, Assistant Coordinator, windwarddb@gmail.com
Nancy Vera, Coordinator, navera@cityofwasco.org
Contact:
Kern County CERT Coordinator
Kern County Fire Department
Cell: 661-301-7111
Crystal Jackson
crjackson@kerncountyfire.org