The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a FEMA-backed program that trains volunteers in disaster preparedness and basic response skills. CERT members support first responders during emergencies by providing immediate assistance to survivors, organizing volunteers, and helping with disaster response.
Citizen Corps is a program that focuses on empowering individuals to become more prepared and involved in their communities to respond to various threats, including terrorism, crime, public health issues, and disasters. It works by providing training, education, and volunteer opportunities to make communities safer and more resilient.
Below is a list of current CERT and Citizen Corps programs in Florida. Please contact the organization directly to learn more about current service opportunities.
| Organization Name | Type | Program Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Baker County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management | CERT | The Baker County CERT Program is a newly launched CERT program aimed at strengthening community preparedness and overall resilience. In its first year, the program plans to train at least 25 volunteers through Basic CERT Training, equipping them with essential skills to support the whole community. This program will create a sustainable framework for ongoing volunteer engagement and community outreach. |
 | Bay County Emergency Management | CERT | Bay County CERT volunteers assist with emergency preparedness, light search and rescue, staff cooling and warming shelters, operate Points of Distribution, donation centers, and receive hands-on training from Bay County Fire and EMS. CERT gives residents a meaningful opportunity to learn valuable skills, serve their neighbors, and help make Bay County more prepared and resilient when emergencies occur. |
 | City of Cape Coral, Department of Emergency Management and Resilience | CERT | The Cape Coral CERT Program strives to continually train and educate City residents. CERT volunteers promote community-wide disaster preparedness skills and actively train to support first responding and social service agencies through an all-hazards approach. CERT volunteers assist with logistical support, emergency call center, shelter operations, and assist with distributions. |
 | Charlotte County Emergency Management | CERT | Charlotte County CERT has over 400 CERT members that serve the community during a disaster as shelter workers, call center operators, and as a support role during wildfires. CERT members also participate in public outreach events, support Fire & EMS by providing first aid at large events and provide lifesaving training throughout the community. |
 | City of Hollywood Fire Rescue and Beach Safety Department | CERT | The City of Hollywood Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program prepares residents, volunteers, and community partners to assist themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods before, during, and after disasters and emergencies. Through education, training, exercises, and volunteer engagement, the CERT program builds a network of prepared and capable residents who can support emergency response efforts, promote preparedness, and help reduce the impact of disasters throughout the Hollywood community. |
 | City of Miami Beach, Division of Emergency Management | CERT | City of Miami Beach CERT targets a wide audience, including residents, businesses, city employees, teens, and various organizations. Their Advanced CERT training covers topics like heat and health, public speaking, and Sky Spotter, with special training for advanced members before events like Superbowl LIV and FIFA World Cup. The CERT members, skilled in disaster response, also actively participate in "blue sky" events, providing assistance during Spring Break and supporting Fire/Rescue efforts. They engage in community outreach, staffing information tables, and participating in emergency exercises. |
 | City of Orlando, Fire Department and Office of Emergency Management | CERT | The City of Orlando CERT program prepares volunteers for hazards that may affect their communities. Participants develop essential skills in disaster medical operations, fire safety, disaster psychology, light search and rescue, and the Incident Command System (ICS). During emergencies, CERT volunteers help coordinate teams, assess damage, and provide critical assistance until professional responders arrive. Year-round, members strengthen community preparedness by supporting public events and volunteering with local organizations. |
 | City of Pensacola Fire Department | Citizen Corps | Pensacola Fire Department utilizes COP Fire Corps and Escambia CERT members to directly support training initiatives developed by the City of Pensacola’s Fire Department to provide hydration and rehabilitation services (cooling, warming, feeding, and monitoring) for their personnel. The intent of the Fire Corps’ Fire Rehab mission is to provide for the immediate protection and welfare of first responders in mitigating the dangers of heat injury and sustainment of human resources and technical skill investment each individual responder represents. |
 | City of Tampa Fire Rescue | CERT | The Tampa Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a program that trains residents of the City of Tampa to be prepared for and respond to emergencies that may arise in their community. Supported by Tampa Fire Rescue and Tampa Office of Emergency Management, the Tampa CERT Program expands the community’s preparedness and response capabilities through public outreach, special event support, and amateur radio communication. |
 | Escambia County Emergency Management | CERT | The Escambia CERT program engages residents, schools, churches, and organizations in preparedness through education, planning, and resource support. Members assist with outreach, cooling stations, traffic, events, and food distribution. After disasters, CERT volunteers aid first responders working in reception centers, distribution sites, donation management, and recovery efforts, serving as a vital force multiplier for the county. The program is managed by BRACE. |
 | Escambia County Emergency Management | Citizen Corps | Escambia County Citizen Corps (CC) supports firefighter rehabilitation operations by establishing and maintaining a safe area where firefighters can temporarily step away from an incident to cool down, hydrate, and replenish electrolytes. CC members will assess firefighters’ vital signs and EMS will address other medical needs unless otherwise directed by the Incident Commander. This program is managed by the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE). |
 | Franklin County Emergency Management | CERT | The Franklin County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is a vital local initiative aimed at preparing residents for effective emergency response. Franklin County CERT actively engages with our community by participating in numerous outreach events, offering services to non-profit organizations, and primarily supporting the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during both blue skies and gray skies. |
 | Florida State University, FSU Office of Emergency Management | Campus CERT | Campus Emergency Response Team Volunteers (CERV) - Campus CERT at FSU is a volunteer program that maintains a cadre of trained volunteers to support public safety partners in campus search and rescue, shelter operations, and other emergencies. FSU CERV is open only to current FSU students, faculty, and staff. The program offers free disaster preparedness training, supports local exercises and on-campus events, and provides volunteer-specific training throughout the year. |
 | Gadsden County, Sheriff’s Office Division of Emergency Management | Citizen Corps | Gadsden County CERT is a new program being established to train and organize local volunteers to assist their families, neighborhoods, and communities during emergencies and disasters. Volunteers will receive training in disaster preparedness, basic fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, team organization, and emergency communications. Working under Gadsden County EM, CERT volunteers will support public education, community events, hurricane preparedness, Points of Distribution operations, and other activities. The program will strengthen community resilience, expand local volunteer capabilities, and help ensure Gadsden County is better prepared when professional responders are overwhelmed or delayed. |
 | Indian River County Emergency Services | CERT | Indian River County’s (IRC) CERT program, in partnership with the IRC Department of Emergency Services, prepares residents to safely assist their families, neighbors, and communities during all disaster phases. Through basic disaster preparedness and response training, CERT volunteers learn emergency safety, first aid, and team organization. IRC CERT strengthens community resilience and can assist victims before first responders arrive. |
 | City of Miramar Fire Rescue | CERT | The City of Miramar Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a highly trained volunteer program that strengthens our community’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters. CERT members receive training in disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, disaster medical operations, first aid, and team organization, allowing them to provide critical support when professional responders are not immediately available. Beyond disaster response, CERT members support Emergency Management, public outreach, community events, and emergency exercises throughout the year. |
 | Orange County, Office of Emergency Management | CERT | The Orange County CERT Program serves as a critical component of the county’s emergency preparedness and response efforts, strengthening community resilience by equipping residents with essential disaster preparedness, basic first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, and emergency response skills. When professional responders may be delayed or overwhelmed, CERT members provide organized community-level support through neighborhood assessments, basic medical assistance, damage and needs reporting, traffic and crowd support, and supply distribution. Through these efforts, Orange County CERT serves as a trained force multiplier for professional responders, helping communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes and other emergencies. |
 | Osceola County Office Emergency Management | CERT | The Osceola County CERT program is administered by the Osceola County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The focus is to train the public in basic disaster response skills should public safety resources not be readily available. CERT Trainings are quarterly at no cost training at the OEM Operations Center. Communities, businesses, non-profits, and other community organizations can offer to host CERT training at their location if they pledge a minimum of 15 students. Students that successfully complete training are not required to volunteer but are encouraged to join the program by completing the volunteer application process. Osceola County CERT offers a wide range of volunteer opportunities from assisting during blue skies to being actively engaged in assisting OEM with incident response and recovery. |
 | Pasco County Emergency Management | CERT | The Pasco County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) supports local emergency management by assisting with community events, training, exercises, and disaster response activities. CERT volunteers help operate shelters, provide staffing and support at Points of Distribution (PODs), and assist with comfort stations to ensure residents have essential services during emergencies. Through preparedness education, hands on support, and coordinated response efforts, Pasco County CERT strengthens community resilience and enhances public safety across the county. |
 | Sarasota County Office of Emergency Management | CERT | CERT volunteers in Sarasota County excel at promoting emergency preparedness at the community and neighborhood level, fully embracing the ‘neighbors helping neighbors’ ethos. The Sarasota County CERT program focuses on outreach and education, as well as facilitating collaboration and coordination amongst the local CERTs. Our mission is to empower individuals, families, teams, and neighborhoods to be better prepared and more resilient. |
 | Taylor County Emergency Management | CERT | The Taylor County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) is a volunteer program that trains and empowers residents to assist before, during, and after emergencies. Under the direction of Taylor County Emergency Management, CERT members support disaster preparedness, public education, community events, shelter operations, emergency response, and recovery efforts. In a county vulnerable to hurricanes, flooding, storm surge, and wildfires, CERT volunteers help strengthen community resilience while allowing first responders to focus on critical life-safety missions. |
 | Town of Davie Fire Rescue Department | Citizen Corps | The Fire Cadet Corps Program provides professional development opportunities for youth (ages 14-19) interested in pursuing careers in fire and emergency services. Fire cadets earn CERT and basic life support certifications, including CPR, before completing a mini fire academy where they are introduced to basic firefighting and rescue techniques. Once training is completed and cadets are 16 years old, they can experience the responsibilities of first responders through a “ride-along” program accompanying Firefighter/Paramedics on real-time emergency calls. Fire Cadets gain practical training and experience all year long through education and community involvement while developing discipline, teamwork, responsibility, respect for the chain of command, and personal accountability. |
 | Town of Davie Fire Rescue Department | CERT | The Town of Davie Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program educates residents, employees, and individuals from the community about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their neighborhood or workplace. CERT members are trained in basic disaster response skills such as basic first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. They can assist others following an event when public safety personnel are not immediately available to help. CERT strengthens partnerships between residents, businesses, and emergency services, ensuring a more resilient, informed, community. |
 | Walton County Emergency Management | Citizen Corps | The Walton County Citizen Corps program that empowers residents to become better prepared and more involved in making their communities safer and more resilient. Through education, training, exercises, amateur radio and volunteer service, prepares participants to support Walton County in addressing disasters, public health emergencies, and other community threats. |