Celebrating 40 Years of CERT: Looking Ahead

Editor's Note: The Community Preparedness, Recovery, and Resiliency (CPR-R) initiative explores and strengthens the efforts of people, organizations, and communities in navigating disasters. Rather than focusing on the space of short-term responsive actions, this initiative examines opportunities to optimize efforts in preparedness, recovery, and resilience toward long-term impact.

The 2026 CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) Conference in Irvine, California, was a gathering of nearly 600 CERT members from across the country and a celebration of 40 years of CERT. Starting as a seed of an idea during the Los Angeles wildfires, CERT is now an international concept with teams worldwide, bringing neighbors together to prepare, respond, and recover when disasters strike.

The energy was palpable as speakers celebrated the value CERT brings to communities and attendees learned about the promising practices from teams who have embraced innovation and resilience. As we gathered ideas that were transferable to the Suncoast region, we also experienced the unbridled passion that CERT teams have for their community.   

One of the most interesting takeaways was the diversity of approaches communities have taken to building their CERT programs. There isn't a single recipe for success. Teams are adapting the CERT model to meet the needs, resources, and personalities of their own communities.  

There was considerable interest in an abbreviated disaster training that introduces people to the CERT concept without requiring the full 30-hour training commitment. The titles and approaches varied, but the concept was similar: spend three to four hours learning the basics of disaster readiness, recovery, and resiliency.

For some participants, that introduction may be the first step toward becoming a fully trained CERT member. For others, it may provide the knowledge and confidence to be more self-sufficient during and after a disaster. In a disaster, a community filled with people who understand basic preparedness, know what to expect and have thought about how they will care for themselves and their neighbors is a more resilient community.

Another major topic at the conference was Teen CERT. Once again, communities are taking different approaches. Some have developed Teen CERT teams, while others have created curriculum that is offered as a for-credit high school course. Imagine graduating from high school with not only academic knowledge, but an understanding of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery and the confidence to help when it matters most. These students are learning about emergencies while developing a preparedness mindset that can stay with them throughout their lives.

One of the best parts of attending a conference like this is returning home with a notebook full of ideas. The real opportunity is determining which ideas can work here on the Suncoast and how we can adapt them to strengthen the CERT ecosystem across our region.

While every community may approach CERT differently, the heart of the program remains the same: neighbors helping neighbors and communities becoming stronger together.

Since we're talking about CERT, we can't resist a little shameless promotion. Please mark your calendar for Thursday, February 25, 2027, for the 2027 CERT Summit at the Ora Event Center in Sarasota! We hope you'll join us at our second annual Summit as we continue learning, sharing ideas, and building connections. Stay tuned for registration details!