The Teen CERT program is a training initiative designed for teenagers to prepare them to face emergencies and support professional responders. In about 20 hours of coursework, participants acquire practical skills such as extinguishing small fires, providing first aid, conducting light search and rescue, and managing post-event stress.Beyond teaching useful disaster response skills, Teen CERT fosters responsibility, civic engagement, and youth leadership, thereby strengthening community resilience.
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Teen CERT
General Information
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency), Ready.gov / Ready Kids
Empower teenagers with the knowledge and skills to assist in emergencies
Communities across the United States face increasing risks from natural disasters, accidents, and emergencies that often overwhelm professional responders in the first critical hours. Teenagers, who spend much of their time in schools and community settings, are frequently among those affected but often lack the knowledge or tools to act safely. To address this gap, FEMA and the national Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program developed Teen CERT to equip young people with practical emergency response skills, build awareness of local risks, and foster a culture of preparedness and resilience among youth.
Needs Addressed
In the aftermath of disasters, professional responders are often overwhelmed, and critical support is needed before they arrive. Teenagers, who spend much of their time in schools and community spaces, are particularly vulnerable and frequently lack the knowledge or training to act safely in emergencies. This gap in preparedness not only increases risks for youth but also limits the community’s overall resilience. Teen CERT was created to address this challenge by equipping young people with basic emergency response skills and empowering them to contribute to disaster preparedness and recovery.
Youth are especially at risk because they may lack the knowledge, experience, and confidence to respond effectively during emergencies
In the United States, disaster risk governance is based on a multi-level system that combines federal, state, and local responsibilities. FEMA coordinates national preparedness and recovery, while states and municipalities adapt strategies to local risks. Civil society, NGOs, and the private sector provide additional resources and community support. At the regional level, organizations like the OAS, IDB, and IFRC promote capacity building and policy alignment. This whole-community approach, consistent with the Sendai Framework, strengthens resilience and integrates disaster risk management into broader development goals.
Emergency preparedness in the United States follows a comprehensive, multi-level approach that integrates federal, state, and local responsibilities. FEMA provides national guidance, training, and funding through frameworks like the National Preparedness Goal and the National Response Framework, while states and municipalities adapt plans to address local hazards. Preparedness is also strengthened by community-based initiatives, schools, NGOs, and the private sector, which play key roles in public education, drills, and resource mobilization. Emphasis is placed on building a “culture of preparedness” where households, businesses, and institutions actively participate in planning and resilience efforts.
In the United States, infrastructure readiness is a cornerstone of disaster risk management, focusing on the resilience of critical systems such as transportation, energy, water, communications, and healthcare. Federal agencies, particularly the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA, set national standards and provide funding to harden infrastructure and ensure continuity of essential services. States and local governments are responsible for assessing vulnerabilities, maintaining assets, and implementing mitigation projects, often supported by federal grants. Public-private partnerships play a vital role, as much of the nation’s infrastructure is privately owned and operated, making coordination with utilities and technology providers essential.
The engagement of stakeholders ensures that disaster preparedness and response strategies reflect the needs, resources, and expertise of the whole community. Involving government agencies, schools, NGOs, the private sector, and citizens helps build shared ownership of preparedness efforts, improves coordination, and reduces duplication of resources. Stakeholder participation also promotes transparency, strengthens trust, and ensures that vulnerable groups are represented.
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NGOs and community groups provide input on vulnerabilities and resources, influencing priorities and outreach strategies. Federal agencies such as FEMA set national standards and provide funding, but decision-making is shared across levels to ensure flexibility and local ownership. This collaborative model allows participants not only to advise but also to shape concrete actions, ensuring that solutions are both context-specific and broadly supported.
The initiative builds long-term resilience by providing participants with practical skills, leadership experience, decision-making tools, and ways to address risk. Over time, this investment in education, collaboration, and shared responsibility enables communities to anticipate risks, reduce vulnerabilities, and sustain resilience independently.
Hazard Type
Geographical Scope - Nuts
Geographical Scope
Population Size
Population Density
Vulnerable Groups
Governance
Emergency Preparedness
Infrastructure Readiness
Engagement Level
Empowerment Level
Implementation
- Youth-focused: empowers teenagers to take an active role in community preparedness.
- Hands-on training: combines classroom learning with practical exercises (first aid, fire safety, light search and rescue).
- Whole-community approach: integrates schools, local authorities, NGOs, and families.
- Scalable and adaptable: can be customized to local risks and community needs.
- Dual benefit: builds immediate response capacity while fostering civic engagement and long-term resilience.
English
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA is the federal agency responsible for disaster risk management in the United States. It coordinates prevention, response and recovery at the national level, intervening in disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods. In addition to operational management, it promotes training and awareness programmes.
Teen CERT is governed nationally by FEMA. Implementation at the local level is managed by schools, local emergency management agencies, and community organizations that adapt the program to their context. Teachers, school staff, and certified trainers often serve as facilitators, while local governments and first responder agencies provide oversight and ensure alignment with broader emergency preparedness policies.
- Program setup: FEMA provides the Teen CERT curriculum, training modules, and introductory online course.
- Local adoption: schools, local emergency management agencies, or community organizations decide to implement the program and designate coordinators/instructors.
- Training delivery: teens complete approximately 20 hours of classroom and hands-on training in first aid, fire safety, search and rescue, and disaster preparedness.
- Practical exercises: participants engage in drills and simulations to apply skills in realistic scenarios.
- Community integration: graduates support school and community preparedness activities, spreading awareness and assisting in resilience-building efforts.
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Training is conducted in advance of disasters as part of preparedness efforts; the program requires about 20 hours of instruction and exercises. Primarily Preparedness (pre-disaster), with benefits extending into Response (teens applying skills during emergencies) and Recovery (supporting community resilience and awareness).
Experience of the Implementing Organisation in DRM
Target Audience
Resources Required
Timeframe & Phases
Participation Results
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The programme may encounter four main risks: low student participation, limited school resources, difficulties in coordinating with local authorities, and loss of interest over time.
Risk & Mitigation Plan
Scalability and Sustainability
Blended learning- IS-317 (online) Ready.gov – Teen CERT page
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Preparing young people before a disaster increases the resilience of the entire community. Practical exercises are more effective than theory alone. Collaboration between schools and local authorities is crucial to success. Youth involvement strengthens leadership and civic awareness. Once trained, young people are ready to take immediate action, offering concrete support to the local community.