Central Nova News

The City of Alexandria's Office of Emergency Management has recently announced the schedule for the spring 2024 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. This national program, tailored to Alexandria, aims to educate community members on disaster preparedness and make the city more resilient in times of emergency.

According to the Alexandria Fire Department's Office of Emergency Management, applications are now being accepted for both Adult CERT and Teen CERT training classes. The Adult CERT program is open to individuals who are 18 years of age or older and live, work, or own a business in the city. On the other hand, the Teen CERT program is designed for students attending public or private high schools in Alexandria.

Both Adult and Teen CERT classes follow the same curriculum but are conducted in separate training sessions. Upon completion of the training, all participants will come together to engage in a joint exercise, marking the conclusion of the spring 2024 training courses. Throughout the training, attendees will have the opportunity to learn from various emergency response subject matter experts from different city agencies, as well as gain a deeper understanding of their community and its preparedness efforts.

The Teen CERT application can be submitted online, and the deadline for submission is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 14. To provide further information and address any questions, an online webinar and Q&A session will be held on Wednesday, January 31 via Zoom. Interested students and their parents or guardians are welcome to attend.

The Teen CERT training will consist of approximately 24 hours of instruction spread over 10 weeks. The training sessions will take place on Wednesday afternoons from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., starting on February 21 and ending on May 1. Adjustments will be made to accommodate spring break, and the final schedule will be shared with admitted participants. Additionally, there will be Sunday afternoon field trips on March 10, April 14, and April 21, as well as a final skills-based exercise with the Adult CERT program on Saturday, May 4.

For the Adult CERT program, registration can be completed on EventBrite, with the deadline set for 5 p.m. on Friday, March 1. The curriculum for the Adult CERT training consists of approximately 24 hours of instruction over the course of eight weeks. Training sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., starting on March 5 and ending on April 16. Similar to the Teen CERT program, there will be a final skills-based exercise with the Teen CERT on Saturday, May 4.

Specific training locations and dates will be shared with admitted participants. The classes will be a combination of in-person and Zoom sessions.

To learn more about CERT and to apply for either the Teen or Adult spring 2024 training classes, interested individuals can visit the City of Alexandria's website at alexandriava.gov/CERT.

The City of Alexandria emphasizes its commitment to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act and encourages individuals with disabilities to request reasonable accommodations. Those in need of accommodations can contact Kevin Coleman at kevin.coleman@alexandriava.gov or call (703) 746-5267.

For media inquiries, Senior Public Information Officer Raytevia Evans can be contacted at (703) 746-5190 or raytevia.evans@alexandriava.gov.

In conclusion, the City of Alexandria's Office of Emergency Management is now accepting applications for the spring 2024 CERT training classes. This program plays a crucial role in preparing community members for disasters and enhancing the overall resilience of the city. Interested individuals can apply for either the Adult CERT or Teen CERT program, with separate application processes for each. The training sessions, conducted over several weeks, will provide participants with valuable knowledge and skills needed in emergency situations. To learn more and apply, visit alexandriava.gov/CERT.