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Pasadena Recognized 40 Years of CERT Programs

The city marked four decades of citizen-led emergency training during National Community Emergency Response Team Week.

Updated on Sept. 20, 2026 in Safety

Bold vector editorial illustration of heavy-duty orange rescue gloves on a concrete block, representing community emergency preparedness.
The City of Pasadena is marking the 40th anniversary of its Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, honoring decades of disaster preparedness training. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you participate in neighborhood disaster response training if it were offered in your community?

Pasadena is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program this week. The initiative, which provides hands-on disaster training to residents, is being highlighted throughout National Community Emergency Response Team Week.

Why it matters

The program helps build local resilience by teaching volunteers essential response skills following major disasters. Its development was spurred by lessons learned from significant seismic events in Japan and Mexico City, as well as the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake.

The program originated from a need to manage emergencies following major seismic events, including an 8.1 magnitude earthquake in Mexico City. Today, CERT operates in all 50 U.S. states, evolving from a 1986 pilot class of 30 people.

The players

Pasadena Fire Department

This agency provides emergency services to the local community and manages current disaster preparedness training.

Los Angeles City Fire Department

This organization originally developed the CERT training program in 1985.

The details

The Los Angeles City Fire Department developed the training curriculum in 1985 to standardize volunteer preparedness. In Pasadena, the Fire Department continues this legacy by offering both standard CERT training and a condensed Prepared Pasadena course to local residents.

Timeline

  1. The CERT program was first developed by the Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985.

  2. The inaugural pilot class of 30 participants took place in 1986.

  3. The Whittier Narrows earthquake struck the region on October 1, 1987.

  4. Federal authorities made the training available nationwide in 1993.

  5. National Community Emergency Response Team Week runs from September 20 to September 26, 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The program's local adoption followed the operational gaps highlighted by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake. This anniversary serves as a reminder of the consistent need for community-level preparedness in high-risk seismic zones.

Residents can improve their personal disaster readiness by signing up for city-led training courses. These programs provide the hands-on skills necessary to assist neighbors and first responders during emergencies.

The takeaway

Citizen training programs serve as a vital link in regional disaster response systems. Residents are encouraged to review their household emergency plans and consider formal training to improve local safety outcomes.

What happens next

The Pasadena Fire Department is expected to announce the registration schedule for its 2027 training classes in the coming months.

Further reading

Learn more about local preparedness efforts on the Pasadena Safety page.

More information

To register for upcoming preparedness courses, visit the Prepared Pasadena training sign-up.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Pasadena Now.

Live Poll

Would you participate in neighborhood disaster response training if it were offered in your community?