For Immediate Release: January 16, 2024

The Alexandria Fire Department’s Office of Emergency Management administers the City’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and is now accepting applications for spring 2024 training. CERT is a national program tailored to Alexandria that teaches community members how to prepare for disasters. Trained CERT volunteers make Alexandria more resilient and can be activated to support the City of Alexandria in emergency situations.

Alexandria offers two CERT training classes – Adult CERT for those who are 18 years of age or older who live, work or own a business in the City and Teen CERT for students who attend public or private high schools in Alexandria. Adult and Teen CERT classes follow the same curriculum but are conducted in separate training sessions. When training is completed, all participants will come together in a joint exercise to conclude the spring 2024 training courses. Throughout the training, participants will have the opportunity to hear about and from different emergency response subject matter experts from various City agencies. Participants will also learn more about their community and preparedness efforts in Alexandria.

Teen CERT

The Teen CERT application can be submitted online. The application period is open until 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 14. An online webinar and Q&A session will be held on Wednesday, January 31 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. via Zoom and is open to any interested students and parents/guardians. The curriculum is comprised of approximately 24 hours of training over the course of 10 weeks. The training dates and locations are as follows:

Training dates/times:

• Wednesday afternoons, 4-6 p.m., February 21-May 1. Adjustments will be made to accommodate spring break and a final schedule will be shared with admitted participants.
• Sunday afternoon field trips, 1-4 p.m., March 10, April 14 and April 21
• Saturday, May 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (final skills-based exercise with Adult CERT)

Training locations:

• Wednesday sessions: Alexandria City High School, 3330 King St. (exact classroom TBD)
• Sunday, March 10: Emergency Operations Center, 2003 Mill Rd.
• Sunday, April 14 and Saturday, May 4: Station 210, 5255 Eisenhower Ave.
• Sunday, April 21: Police Department Headquarters, 3600 Wheeler Ave.

Adult CERT

Adult CERT registration can be completed on EventBrite. The registration period is open until 5 p.m. Friday, March 1. The curriculum is comprised of approximately 24 hours of training over the course of eight weeks. The training dates and locations are as follows:

Training dates/times:

• Tuesday evenings, 7-10 p.m., March 5-April 16
• Saturday May 4, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. (final skills-based exercise with Teen CERT)

Training locations:

• Specific locations/dates will be shared with admitted participants. Class locations will include a mix of in-person and Zoom sessions.

Note that the application/registration instructions are different for each program. To learn more about CERT and to apply for either the Teen or Adult spring 2024 training classes, visit alexandriava.gov/CERT.

The City of Alexandria is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. To request a reasonable accommodation, e-mail kevin.coleman@alexandriava.gov or call (703) 746-5267.

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

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This news release is available at alexandriava.gov/go/5382.