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Ventura, Calif.- The City of Ventura, in partnership with the City of Santa Paula and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is excited to announce its fifth Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training class, now offering its second Spanish-language session.
The CERT program is a free, 24-hour training opportunity open to 40 residents from Ventura and Santa Paula. Participants learn how to safely and effectively respond to local emergencies, including reducing fire hazards, providing basic medical care, assisting professional responders, conducting light search and rescue, and more. Graduates receive a certificate of completion, a training manual, and a disaster start-up kit with a helmet, gloves, vest, and safety goggles.
The 2026 training will be offered on six consecutive Wednesday nights from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. starting January 21 and ending February 25, with the final drills scheduled from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on February 28. Classroom sessions will be hosted at the Santa Paula Community Center, located at 530 W. Main Street in Santa Paula, with the final drill at the Ventura County Fire Training Facility, 104 Durley Drive in Camarillo.
"After a major disaster, the demand for professional responders often exceeds availability," said Emergency Services Manager Mack Douglass. "Community Emergency Response Team training gives residents the skills and confidence to act safely and effectively in those first critical hours. Our community is stronger when everyone is prepared."
Since launching the program, Ventura and Santa Paula have trained more than 120 residents in basic emergency preparedness and response, empowering community members to act confidently when disaster strikes.
For more information or to register for the next CERT training, visit https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/CERT.
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