CERT/ALERT Program

The City of Albany and the Albany Fire Department is proud to provide CERT training and organization in the form of their program called ALERT. Albany Local Emergency Response Teams are trained and maintained by criteria set by the Community Emergency Response Team training "CERT" that has been made standard throughout the United States.

Albany has taken this to another level by ensuring that there should be at least one person per block that has been educated or is knowledgable of the standards that are exemplified by CERT. The City of Albany refers to these individuals as Block Captains.

A Block Captain’s primary role is to help neighbors with a common interest in Disaster Preparedness and to help organize their block or building and form ALERT teams.

Different blocks throughout Albany have successfully implemented a wide variety of programs and disaster preparedness activities. ALERT operates on the premise that anything you do is a step in the right direction. There are many guidelines and suggestions for activities but there is no prescribed approach. Each block is free to decide upon it’s own priorities, programs and actions, and manage their ALERT teams as they see fit. ALERT team activities include but are not limited to:

• Formation of subcommittees with assigned responsibilities in an emergency, such as damage assessment, search and rescue, first aid, etc.
• Holding garage sales to raise funds for first aid, disaster kits or ALERT team supplies. Help organize block or home parties.
• Completion of information questionnaires to determine special needs, skills or resources of people on the block.
• Mapping and marking of utility shutoffs for every house on the block.
• Information and education meetings featuring guest speakers or local experts that may even live in their own community.
• Prepare and distribute regular newsletters to announce meetings, report activities, and communicate with those who may choose to not be actively involved.
• Participate in a city wide Disaster Drill, and any other City sponsored trainings. Promote the team or ALERT program at city festivals and events.

The City of Albany Fire Department is here to help you and your ALERT team succeed. Please call (510) 528-5775 for any additional information.