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Imperial Beach to restart CERT training; officials urge household preparedness
Summary
Chief French briefed the council on National Preparedness Month and announced plans to restart the city’s Community Emergency Response Team with recruitment and training beginning next year. Council members discussed training cadence, grant funding, and community outreach.
Chief French presented the City Council with National Preparedness Month guidance and an update on Imperial Beach’s Community Emergency Response Team on Sept. 3. He said the theme for 2025 is "preparedness starts at home," and urged residents to "know the risks, make a family emergency plan, build a supply kit, and get involved in the community."
French told the council the city has secured grant funds to restart its CERT program, which paused during the COVID period. The plan is to recruit and certify new volunteers beginning early next year; initial training would resemble past sessions (about six Saturdays for 24–30 hours of instruction), followed by ongoing monthly or periodic drills and county‑level exercises.
Council members asked about training frequency, certification and background checks, the scope of duties for CERT volunteers and whether the grant covered equipment and kits. French said the grant money could be used for equipment and noted the city still has a CERT trailer and some stored supplies. Council member Fisher and others recommended increasing outreach to schools and making preparedness materials available to older residents who may need assistance enrolling in programs.
No formal action was taken. Council asked staff to return with recruitment plans, an inventory of available CERT equipment and a schedule for community training and public outreach.
