Register Today for Emergency Services Volunteer (ESV) Courses

Published on February 13, 2023

Consider supporting your neighborhood and the community during emergencies by becoming either a Block Preparedness Coordinator or a member of the Community Emergency Response Team! Register today for courses available in February and March. These volunteer opportunities further the City Council's priority of Community Health and Safety by preparing yourself, your family, and neighbors during a disaster or emergency situation. Learn more about Emergency Service Volunteers (ESV).

Learn more about the Block Preparedness Coordinator program.

The next certification course will occur on February 18 at the Downtown Library Meeting Room from 1 - 4 p.m.

This program helps prepare the community prior to a disaster and seeks to enhance community resilience during and after a disaster. Day-to-day, the Block Preparedness Coordinator program serves as our community's crime prevention program. Participants learn:

important roles/responsibilities during normal and emergency conditions
to use a two-way radio to report on conditions and coordinate with other emergency service volunteers
the importance of neighbors helping neighbors

Learn about the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.

CERT training is a national program designed to prepare Palo Alto residents to help themselves, their families, and their neighbors in the event of a disaster. Participants learn:

basic disaster response skills such as small fire suppression,
light search-and-rescue, and
disaster medical operations.

Using training from both the classroom and exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

The Spring 2023 CERT Basic Training begins Monday, March 6 in person and continues on March 8, 13, 15, 20, and 22 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Field Day is Saturday, March 25, noon - 4 p.m.

The Office of Emergency Services encourages CERT members who have not been to a CERT refresher course within the past five years to attend this CERT training again.

Looking for other ways to get involved? Go here.