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Southern Nevada CERT

General Information

CERT logo

Following a major disaster, professional-first responders providing fire, police, and medical services will not be able to meet the demand for these services. The number of victims, communication failures and road blockages will prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.

History has taught us that under these kinds of conditions, family members, fellow employees and neighbors will spontaneously try to help each other. This was the case following Hurricane Hugo, the Loma Prieta Earthquake and the Mexico City earthquake where untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved 800 people. However, 100 people lost their lives while attempting to save others. This is a high price to pay and is preventable through training.

We know that government emergency services will not meet immediate needs following a major disaster, especially if there is no warning as in an earthquake. We know people will attempt to assist those in need and spontaneously volunteer. What then should government do to prepare citizens?

First, present citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, communicate the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, train them - in needed life-saving skills - with emphasis on decision making skills, rescuer safety and doing the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Fourth, organize teams so that trained citizens are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.

The city of Las Vegas, Office of Emergency Management provides training and coordination for the Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. The Southern Nevada CERT program encompasses  Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln and parts of Nye Counties. CERT training includes disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, team organization, weapons of mass destruction/terrorism and disaster psychology.

For more information contact:

 

Malik Redmond

Southern Nevada CERT Program Coordinator

702-229-2516, [email protected]

 

Irene Cedillo

Volunteer Program Coordinator

702-229-2608, [email protected]

 

Guy DeMarco

Southern Nevada CERT Marketing and Promotions Specialist

702-229-6794, [email protected]

Announcements

Events

Course Descriptions

Units

Unit 1, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: 

  • Introductions and Overview
  • Community Preparedness: Roles and Responsibilities
  • Hazards and Their Potential Impact
  • Impact on the Infrastructure
  • Home and Workplace Preparedness
  • Reducing the Impact of Hazards Through Mitigation
  • CERT Disaster Response
  • Protection for Disaster Workers
  • Additional Training for CERTs
  • Unit Summary

Unit 2, FIRE SAFETY AND UTILITY CONTROLS: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Fire Chemistry
  • Fire and Utility Hazards
  • CERT Size-Up
  • Fire Size-Up Considerations
  • Firefighting Resources
  • Fire Suppression Safety
  • Hazardous Materials
  • Exercise: Suppressing Small Fires
  • Unit Summary

Unit 3, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART I: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Treating Life-Threatening Conditions
  • Triage
  • Unit Summary

Unit 4, DISASTER MEDICAL OPERATIONS, PART II: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Public Health Considerations
  • Functions of Disaster Medical Operations
  • Establishing Medical Treatment Areas
  • Conducting Head-to-Toe Assessments
  • Treating Burns
  • Wound Care
  • Treating Fractures, Dislocations, Sprains and Strains
  • Nasal Injuries
  • Treating Cold-Related Injuries
  • Treating Heat-Related Injuries
  • Bites and Stings
  • Unit Summary

Unit 5, LIGHT SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS:

  • Introduction and Overview
  • Safety During Search and Rescue Operations
  • Conducting Interior and Exterior Search Operations
  • Conducting Rescue Operations
  • Unit Summary

 Unit 6, CERT ORGANIZATION:

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • CERT Organization
  • CERT Mobilization
  • Documentation
  • Activity: Incident Command System (ICS) Functions
  • Activity: Tabletop Exercise
  • Unit Summary

Unit 7, DISASTER PSYCHOLOGY: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Disaster Trauma
  • Team Well-Being
  • Working with Survivors' Trauma
  • Unit Summary

 Unit 8, TERRORISM AND CERT: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • What is Terrorism?
  • Terrorist Targets
  • Terrorist Weapons
  • Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Indicators
  • Preparing at Home, Work, and in Your Neighborhood
  • CERTs and Terrorist Incidents
  • Activity: Applying CERT Principles to a Suspected Terrorist Incident
  • Unit Summary

Unit 9, COURSE REVIEW, FINAL EXAM AND DISASTER SIMULATION: 

  • Introduction and Unit Overview
  • Course Review
  • Final Exam
  • Disaster Simulation

CERT Videos

Courses

East Las Vegas CERT

Friday, August 7, 2026 and Saturday, August 8, 2026

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 250 N Eastern Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101 

*Backpack raffle included on day 2*

REGISTER HERE

 

Henderson CERT

Every Wednesday, August 12, 2026 - September, 16, 2026

5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Address: 401 Parkson Road, Henderson, NV 89011

*Backpack raffle included on day 6*

REGISTER HERE

 

Moapa Valley CERT

August 22, 2026 and August, 29, 2026 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 320 N. Moapa Valley Road, Overton, NV 89040

*Backpack raffle included on day 2*

REGISTER HERE

 

Mesquite CERT

September 19, 2026 and September, 20, 2026 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: 3 John Deere Drive, Mesquite, NV 89027

*Backpack raffle included on day 2*

REGISTER HERE

 

Indian Springs CERT

September 26, 2026 and September, 27, 2026 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: Indian Springs Community Center, 715 W. Gretta Lane,  Indian Springs, NV 89018

*Backpack raffle included on day 2*

REGISTER HERE

 

Searchlight CERT

December 5, 2026 and December, 6, 2026 

8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Address: Searchlight Community Center, 200 Michael Wendell Way, Searchlight, NV 89046 

*Backpack raffle included on day 2*

REGISTER HERE

 

Additional classes coming soon!

Training Videos

The Southern Nevada CERT program teaches students several potentially life-saving skills for free, including the following:

Lifts and Carries - https://youtu.be/46JcaWInX2g?si=ahILynKFQ7V79aVJ

Cribbing - https://youtu.be/QJ4Y4S3zauA?si=bJdmyL3AELNxKTOe

Search and Rescue - https://youtu.be/kAzrU6zbT8w?si=aMmnNaUUspM8OW_3

Triage - https://youtu.be/ZYC49_smI08?si=UiA0Ke-Rp6QKRBAS

Head-to-Toe Assessment - https://youtu.be/C8wlHVCH-Ok?si=PUecs01_TVK3JMF1

Fire Suppression - https://youtu.be/m3fOu7WjpE4?si=CUfsnnSZatbsc7r1

History & FAQ

FAQ

What are the course fees?

The course is free. The Community Emergency Response Team Program is sponsored through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

How do I join?

The CERT course is delivered in the community by a team of first responders who have the requisite knowledge and skills to instruct the sessions. The CERT training for community groups is usually delivered in 2½to 3 hour sessions, one evening a week over a 6 or 8 week period.

When participants have completed this training, with their permission, they are entered into a database of disaster volunteers that may be notified in case of a disaster or to participate in drills held throughout the county by responding agencies. CERT members are notified by email.

History

In Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) training began in 1999. The first course was held in Sun City Summerlin and graduated 12 students. We offer between 18 and 20 courses each year throughout Southern Nevada at Community Centers, Churches and other facilities provided by the groups sponsoring a course. If your group consists of 15-32 individuals, we can tailor a course specifically for it.

The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens and private and government employees.

The training program that LAFD initiated makes good sense and furthers the process of citizens understanding their responsibility in preparing for disaster. It also increases their ability to safely help themselves, their family and their neighbors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Instituteand the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards.

The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.

3V for Vital, Vocal, Volunteers!

If you have completed Southern Nevada Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) course to apply for the CERT 3V Program. If you are ready to engage in any of these volunteer opportunities, please complete the Volunteer Interest Form to be considered for an interview. Interest forms will be evaluated in January and July, providing current volunteers ample time to adjust to their new roles. This interval between recruitment will act as a crucial transition period, bridging the gap between completing basic CERT training and becoming a fully inducted CERT 3V member. This period will be an exciting opportunity, as refresher skill sessions and a full-scale exercise will be available to ensure you’re well-prepared for the full commitment ahead.

Southern Nevada CERT 3Vs (Vital, Vocal, Volunteers) are not first responders and do not typically arrive first at emergency scenes. They undergo regular training to improve their response skills, enabling them to effectively support first responders and agencies during times of heightened need and when called upon. During periods between emergencies, the CERT 3Vs play a crucial role in promoting community-wide preparedness education, and focusing on first responder agencies and organizations committed to enhancing preparedness at outreach events.

Volunteers may participate in non-emergency situations, such as: disaster exercise support; community outreach; public safety education; animal disaster preparedness; neighbor check-Ins; and administrative support. In an emergency situation volunteers may work in: neighborhood fire suppresssion; search and rescue; mass care; donation management; traffic and crowd control; and more.

 

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As an affiliated, trained volunteer with the Southern Nevada 3V Program, you will be a trusted source of support to Southern Nevada response agencies. Our grant funding requires all affiliated volunteers to agree to a background check, fingerprint and drug test. Both in-person and online training also is required.

For additional information, please review the Frequently Asked Questions. Have more questions? Email nvcert@lasvegasnevada.gov or call 702.229.2608.

CERT programs are now in all 50 states, including many tribal nations and U.S. territories. The city of Las Vegas is part of the over 3,200 local CERT programs nationwide and you are one of the 600,000+ members trained since CERT became a national program in 1993.

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