Coastside CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) is an emergency preparedness volunteer organization focused on creating a ready and resilient community along the San Francisco Bay Area coast from the southern side of the Tom Lantos Tunnel (Devil’s Slide) to Tunitas Creek Road.

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If you’d like to join Coastside CERT, please fill out form.

"There is likely no better local example of how a little public investment coupled with a spirit of community service can make an incalculable difference in the lives of real people."
Clay Lambert, Editor, Half Moon Bay Review

Op-Ed article on Coastside CERT, 11/11/2020

CERT Basic Training is offered both In-Person and Online in 2022.

Register now for Fall CERT 2022.

Start online coursework now or come to in-person classes in November.


Coastside CERT 2022 Calendar


Stay tuned - we are pleased to present a whole year of CERT training opportunities & events. This is the current plan but life happens and everything is subject to change. We'll keep you updated right here. All classes are offered free of charge.

What's new?

Have it your way! CERT Basic Training is offered twice this year, Spring and Fall. For both sessions, you may choose online coursework leading to an in-person Training Day & Graduation or in-person training that dovetail into the same Training Day & Graduation.

Advanced CERT Training (ACT) classes (5) will be offered for all of you awesome certificated CERTs (currently, there are 339 Coastside CERTs ). It's an a la carte menu of topical classes to be held on five weekend mornings at Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, Half Moon Bay. Some advanced training topics: First Aid, Stop the Bleed, CPR, Psychological First Aid, Traffic Management, Neighborhood Command Post Radio Communications.

LISTOS Classes are taught in Spanish in person. The 2-hour class focuses on how to how to protect your family in a disaster or emergency. Topics include Identifying Risks & Dangers, Communication Plans, Evacuation Plans, Utility Interruptions, Fire Extinguisher Use, Disaster Kit, Victim Treatment, Home Organization & Emotional Support. Graduate from this 4-hour class and receive a backpack filled with emergency supplies from Coastside CERT, sponsored by a CSFA grant from the City of Half Moon Bay. Class registration and administration provided by ALAS (Ayudando Latinos A Soñar). To register contact ALAS at nancy@alasdreams.com

Coastside CERT Neighborhood Action - Please scroll to see what's happening where you live. Neighborhood Leads, want your neighborhood events, radio practices, and drills listed on this calendar? Happy to post them! Please send a brief description to coastsidecert@gmail.com


  • July 9 Saturday 9:00 AM Coastside CERT Advanced Training Class #4, Topic: Field Emergency First Aid Skills, Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St. HMB. All CERTs are invited. RSVPs required.

  • July 30 Saturday Time TBD (10:00 AM-2:00 PM) San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day. Location: San Mateo Events Center. Everyone is invited. Coastside CERT will have a presence and participate in activities with other SMC CERT programs.

  • August - Take the month off! No training or meetings except events organized by neighborhoods.

  • September 17 Saturday 9:00 - 11:00 AM Coastside CERT Advanced Training Class #5 Topic: ICS Model Neighborhood Command Post including staffing, effective communications, and essential documentation. Class includes practicing hands-on radio skills. This class is good practice for the Great Coastside ShakeOut earthquake and radio communications drill on October 9! All CERTs invited.

  • October 8 Saturday 10:00 am Great Coastside ShakeOut. Everyone participates!

  • October 26 Wednesday 6:30-7:30 CERT Volunteer Prep for Nov 13 Training Day. Zoom link will be sent to CERT volunteers.

  • November 3 Thursday 6:30-8:00 Online Fall CERT Students Q&A Zoom with Chief Cosgrave. Registered online students will be sent the meeting link.

  • November Fall CERT In-Person Basic Training Schedule - 3 sessions + Training Day & Graduation. Attendance at all 4 sessions is required to graduate. Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St. HMB. Open to everyone 18+; 16-17 yrs. by special arrangement. Questions? Please email coastsidecert@gmail.com

    1. November 2 Wednesday 6:30-9:00 PM In-Person Fall CERT class #1

Disaster Preparedness, local Annexes, CERT Organization (ICS), Intro to Triage

    1. November 6 Sunday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM In-Person Fall CERT class #2

Disaster Medical Operations I + Triage, Disaster Medical Ops II, Fire Safety & Utility Controls

    1. November 9 Wednesday 6:30-9:00 PM In-Person Fall CERT class #3

Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, Light Search & Rescue

November 13 Sunday 9:00-4:00 Fall CERT Training Day & Graduation. Parallel In-Person and Online training culminates in a single Training Day & Graduation.

Orientation, Hands-On Skills Training, Disaster Simulation

  • December - Holiday pause - no training or meetings except events organized by neighborhoods.


  • May 21 Saturday 9:00 AM Coastside CERT Advanced Training Class #3, Topic: Stop the Bleed, Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St. HMB. CERTS only, please. RSVPs required.

  • May 21 Saturday 10:00-noon LISTOS Class in Spanish. Free of charge. Family preparation for disasters/emergencies. Contact ALAS at nancy@alasdreams.com to register. Register and complete this 2-hour class and you will receive refreshments, raffle tickets, and a backpack filled with emergency supplies. All Spanish speakers are welcome. Location: Ted Adcock Center 535 Kelly Ave, Half Moon Bay.

Coastside CERT thanks Coastside Gives and our generous donors for their support.

We are 100% volunteer and 100% community funded.

How will your donations be used?

Your donations are vital to our mission as we amplify our outreach
to serve more residents of the larger Coastside community

  • Free disaster preparedness & response training - basic training, ongoing refresher opportunities, and advanced CERT training classes in English & Spanish.

  • Communications infrastructure to send timely local safety messages, webinars, videos, tutorials, and Chief David Cosgrave's Newsletters.

  • Critical practice drills & mutual aid activations with other emergency response agencies, as during the CZU fires & burn scar debris flow evacuations, and CERT volunteers who have continuously staffed HMB COVID testing sites since June 2020.

  • Preparedness & response equipment.

  • Growth of neighbor helping neighbor networks in every local neighborhood as they work together to strengthen communication and resilience.