Carlsbad showcases CERT volunteer academy, seeks applicants for summer cohort

Assistant Director of Emergency Services Kim Young presented the Carlsbad Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program and urged residents to consider volunteering. "Ielieve we can all be really proud of our city's CERT program and all that it does for our community," Kim Young said, describing the academy requirement, regular bimonthly meetings and the program's role in emergency preparedness.

Young said CERT is a FEMA‑sponsored program implemented locally and that approximately 300 Carlsbad CERT volunteers have been trained. The Carlsbad CERT Academy is a five‑week, 20‑hour curriculum required to join the team; Young said last year's largest academy enrolled 28 members and the city expects to accommodate up to about 30 this year. Applicants must be at least 18 years old; those who hold a FEMA CERT completion certificate from another first‑responder agency are eligible to join Carlsbad CERT without repeating the Carlsbad academy but must complete city volunteer paperwork (including live scan/background checks).

Young highlighted the Genesis Protect app and website as a regional tool for emergency alerts and said San Diego County and its 18 incorporated cities use it during emergencies. He said the city expects to open applications in May and to hold the academy in June–July, and that bimonthly CERT meetings (5–6:30 p.m.) focus on practical skill development. Young closed by summarizing recent activation examples, including CERT support during the COVID response at the Faraday Center.