2023 Coastside CERT 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.

Have it your way! CERT Basic Training is offered twice a year,  Spring and Fall.  Please sign up now for Spring CERT Basic Training in March 2024.  For both sessions, you may choose in-person training coursework (preferred option) leading to Training Day & Graduation or online coursework that dovetail into the same in-person Training Day & Graduation.  

Advanced CERT Training (ACT) classes (5) are offered for all of you awesome certificated CERTs (currently, there are 425 Coastside CERTs ). It's an a la carte menu of topical classes usually held at Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, Half Moon Bay,  2023 ACT training topics:  Neighborhood Organizers Forum, "Shake & Bake" - Earthquake & Wildfire Prep,  Disaster Pet Care, Radio Training: Walkie-Talkie Basics and Beyond, Neighborhood Command Post + Great Coastside ShakeOut Prep. 

Coastside CERT Neighborhood Action - Please scroll down 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

2023

December

Holiday break! - no training or meetings except events organized by neighborhoods. 

2024

January

February

28 February Fall CERT In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

March

Spring CERT In-Person Basic Training Academy Schedule - 3 classes + 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 

28 February In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

2 In-person Class #2 Saturday 9:00-5:00

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

6 In-person Class #3 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, Light Search & Rescue

9 Training Day & Graduation Saturday 9:00-4:00 

Orientation, Hands-On Skills Training, Disaster Simulation, Graduation

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

30 October Fall CERT In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

November

Fall CERT In-Person Basic Training Academy Schedule - 3 classes + 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 

30 February In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

2 In-person Class #2 Saturday 9:00-5:00

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

6 In-person Class #3 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, Light Search & Rescue

9 Training Day & Graduation Saturday 9:00-4:00 

Orientation, Hands-On Skills Training, Disaster Simulation, Graduation

December

Holiday break! - no training or meetings except events organized by neighborhoods. 

Alsace Lorraine 

Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Network practice. Second and Fourth Monday of Every Month, 7:00 p.m. Channel 5.

Montara 

Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Network practice. First Tuesday of Every Month, 7:00 p.m. Channel 2.

• National Night Out  August 1 at Montara Post Office

Moss Beach

Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Network practice. Fourth Tuesday of Every Month, 7:00 p.m. Channel 10.

El Granada 

• EG Prepared:  Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Net Practice.  Weekly on Tuesdays.  6:30PM on Channel 21.

• El Granada Community Preparedness Meeting, 1st Wednesday of each Month, 6:30p.m. at EG Fire Station 41

  • June 7: Pet Preparedness

  • July 5:  Water Preparedness

  • Aug 2: Home Defensible Space

  • Sept 6: Preparation for Great Coastside Shakeout

  • September 23  9:30-12:00 p.m. Coastside Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill (Ave Portola & Obispo Rd)

    • • "Search & Report" Radio Communications Drill

      • El Granada Emergency Preparedness Info Tables

      • For more information, please check egready.net

  • October 4: Cyber Security

  • November 1: Block Captain Training

  • December 6:TBD

East Miramar

May 13  12:00 noon-4:00p.m.  East Miramar Neighborhood CERT Gathering for all East Miramar residents.  Please email info@miramarcert.org for details.  

Frenchman’s Creek  

FCPrepared:  Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Net Practice.  Third Monday of each Month.  7:45PM (1945 local) on Channel 8.

Kehoe/Casa del Mar

National Night Out  August 1  Neighborhood social event with emergency preparedness theme for Kehoe/Casa del Mar residents.  6:30-8:00 p.m. Antoinette Court.  For more info please contact Chris via kehoe.casa.neighbors@gmail.com

Highland Park

• April 23  2:00-4:00 p.m. Highland Park Neighborhood Brainstorming Session. Block leads, CERTs, and Ham operators are encouraged to participate. RSVP by April 16th to HighlandPrepared@gmail.com. Open to all Highland Park neighbors. Please add your ideas for this year's Highland Park neighborhood events: 

  • August 1  6:00-8:00 p.m. National Night Out Social time. 664 Terrance Ave. 

  • September 17  2:00-4:00 p.m. Neighborhood Social Gathering 

  • September 23  10:00-12:00 p.m. Great Coastside ShakeOut Earthquake & Radio Communications Drill Families welcome to participate

Alsace Lorraine 

Walkie Talkie Radio Communications Network practice. Second and Fourth Monday of Every Month, 7:00 p.m. Channel 5.

February

21 ACT 1 Neighborhood Organizers Forum. In-person.  6:00-8:30 PM Tuesday evening.  Ted Adcock Center, 535 Main St, HMB

Please use this LINK to sign-up for the class!  Each participant must register separately.  

Everyone with an interest in organizing their neighborhoods is invited. We will answer your questions and welcome your shared 

lessons learned from trying to organize your own neighborhoods.  How is Coastside CERT organized? Why? What are the steps of organizing and sustaining neighborhood safety networks? 

• Overview of CERT neighborhood organization, map review, discussion of rally points, support for organized neighborhoods, etc. 

• Neighborhood Communications/Emergency Communications

• Data Managers: CERT roster, privacy policy, neighborhood rosters and mailing lists

• Trials/Tribulations and Success Stories from organized neighborhoods

• Questions/Answers/Support Requests

• If time permits we will break out into small groups for further discussion 

• If you have questions or a topic you want to be sure we cover, drop it onto the sign-up form at the link above.

• Registration will close on Monday, February 20th

28 Instructional Q&A Zoom to localize FEMA curriculum for Spring CERT online students who have completed their 10 online modules. Time:

7:00-8:00 PM 

March

Spring CERT 2023 Basic Training Class is full. Please sign up now for the Fall CERT 2023 Basic Training Class in November. Class dates are listed under November, below. Spring CERT In-Person Basic Training Course Schedule - 3 classes + 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 In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

5 In-person Class #2 Sunday 9:00-5:00

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

8 In-person Class #3 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, Light Search & Rescue

12 Training Day & Graduation  Sunday 10:00-5:00 (daylight savings time begins)

Orientation, Hands-On Skills Training, Disaster Simulation, Graduation

April

21-22  LISTOS Basic Course in Spanish - via Zoom 10:00 a.m.-noon both days. Must attend both classes to graduate. Contact 

Alma Pelayo, almapelayolistosmt@gmail.com, 510-778-5159, to register. 

22 ACT 2  Shake & Bake - Disaster Preparedness for Californians  8:30-11:00 a.m. Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main 

St, HMB

This Advanced CERT training class is open to all graduated CERTs.  It will provide information on how to prepare for earthquakes and what to do during and after, especially if the earthquake causes fires. Our instructor will share practical advice on how to build your supplies for both shelter-in-place and evacuation when a disaster has struck.

8:30-9:00 a.m. Students sign in and help set-up

9:00-10:30 a.m. Class

 10:30-11:00 a.m. Q&A and re-set Fire Station 40

Local CERT, Matt Linton, will be our instructor.  Matt currently works as a critical incident manager in the tech industry, and has 27 years of experience in both professional and volunteer Fire & Rescue roles. 

Class size will be limited and will require registration.  The registration email will be sent early in April.

28-29  CERT Train the Trainer (T3) Course in English - 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Location: San Mateo Consolidated Fire Department, 1040 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA. Advance registration is necessary. Please contact coastsidecert@gmail.com if interested.

This  2-day course prepares participants to deliver FEMA's CERT Basic Training course as a member of Chief Cosgrave's certificated teaching team.  

29 Mavericks Awards - (was Mavericks Festival) 5:30-10:00 p.m. Location: San Benito House, 356 Main Street, HMB. 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mavericks-awards-2023-tickets-583998143167 Everyone invited

30 Dream Machines - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Location: HMB Airport  https://dreammachines.miramarevents.com/ Everyone invited

May

4 Coastside Gives Day! Giving during Coastside CERT's Power Hour 10:00-11:00 a.m. will help us win a $1,000 prize but you can donate anytime!  It's our one-time ask all year!

6 ACT 3  Disaster Preparedness for Pets  8:30-11:00 a.m.  Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, HMB

This Advanced CERT training class is open to all graduated CERTs.

8:30-9:00 a.m. Students sign in and help set-up

9:00-10:30 a.m. Class

 10:30-11:00 a.m. Q&A and re-set Fire Station 40

Coastside CERT and Subject Matter Expert Chris Deimler is teaching this important class for us in person. There will be classroom review of things you can do now to prepare you and your pet to be resilient in an emergency. Chris will focus on practical steps to take well before an emergency, and will give advice on what to have on hand, what to practice, and what to know relative to how pets will act in or after a disaster. We will discuss pet preparedness kits, transport, sheltering, food/water and so much more. Chris will touch on related subjects relevant to the Coastside.

Class size will be limited and requires registration.  The registration email was sent in the latter half of April. Questions? Please contact Jenny at fcprepared@gmail.com

13 HMB Wine & Jazz Festival  noon-5 p.m. Location: Main Street, HMB

June

3 ACT 4  Radio Training: Walkie-Talkie Basics and Beyond  8:30-11:00 a.m.  Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main St, HMB

8:30-9:00 a.m. Students sign-in and help set-up

9:00-10:30 a.m. Class

10:30-11:00 a.m. Q&A and re-set Fire Station 40

Coastside CERT would like to welcome all graduated Coastside CERTS to join us for the fourth in our series of 2023 Advanced CERT Training   (“ACT”) classes.  These classes provide an opportunity to focus on a specific CERT skill or topic and to get hands-on practice as appropriate.  

We are lucky to have Scott Pyne, our CERT Radio Officer teaching this important class for us in person.  Radio communication will be a vital part of a CERT response in the event of an emergency.  Scott will walk us through the basics and will provide plenty of hands-on practice. 

This class is for you if you want to learn things like:  “How do I program the channel?”, “How do I actually talk on the radio?”, “How can I perfect my radio manner/skills?”, “Do I need to know pro words?”  If you routinely participate in a neighborhood net or are a Ham, this class will likely be too basic for you. 

Class size will be limited and will require registration.  The registration email has been sent. Questions? Please email fcprepared@gmail.com

10 Coastside Preparedness Day  The City of Half Moon Bay is excited to host our Annual Coastside Community Preparedness Day along Kelly and Main St. 

CERT will host 4 tents (CERT Program explainer, Branch 1 Neighborhoods, Branch 2 neighborhoods, Neighborhood Command Post mock-up) with more than 20 volunteers from 13 neighborhoods. Other organizations present for public interaction include Coastside Fire, Coastside Volunteer Firefighters, Coastside Sheriff's Office, City of HMB, SMC Department of Emergency Management, ARES, ALAS, LISTOS, Puente, MCC, Coastside Water District, SamTrans, SMC Health, Senior Coastsiders, CEAP, Republic Services, PG&E, HMB Review... and more! 

The Coastside Preparedness Day is planned to be a fun family event. The City will be handing out a “Passport” through all participating organizations where those who check out booths can get a check or a signature from each organization showing they’ve visited. Passports are then turned back to City staff and those people will be entered into a raffle. The raffle prizes will be anything from gift cards to local businesses, wine tastings, meals, and a brand-new unisex bicycle for some lucky kid to win. We will also have a jumpy house in the parking lot of City Hall, so again families are encouraged to bring the kids. Location: Along Kelly from Purissima to Johnston St, and Main Street. Time: noon - 4:00 p.m.

26-7/1 CERT National Conference in Burlingame 

July

1 Volunteer Firefighter Training Academy Graduation  Come celebrate the new graduates who have just completed their rigorous eight-month training program, including 6 Coastside Volunteers. Location: Coastside Fire Station 40. Time: 11:00 a.m.

15 ACT 5  Neighborhood Command Post: Set-up and Field Team Practice training + Great ShakeOut Prep. Saturday, 8:30-noon.  Location: Coastside Fire Station 40, 1191 Main Street, Half Moon Bay.

Our own David Cosgrave and Scott Pyne will be leading this important opportunity to get hands-on practice setting up a Neighborhood Command Post (“NCP”) and deploying field teams to perform windshield damage assessments.  We will have a brief presentation to remind folks about the ICS model and the set-up of an NCP.  We will also illustrate the damage assessment protocols.  You will then break out into teams to set up and operate your NCPs.  Walkie-talkies will be needed but if you are not yet radio-trained, there are other roles to fill.  We hope to give everyone ample opportunity to practice all or most all of the NCP roles. 

This class is for everyone, but especially important if your neighborhood is planning to participate in the Coastside Great ShakeOut on 

September  23rd. 

  
IMPORTANT:

• Please use this LINK to sign-up for the class.  Each participant must register individually!

• Maximum Class size is 40 so sign-up early!  The first 40 registrants will be in the class and the remainder will be on the waitlist.  Registration will close on 7/13/23.

August

1 National Night Out is the annual nationwide community-building campaign encouraging police/community partnerships and

neighbor-to-neighbor connections, making our neighborhoods safer, better places to live. On National Night Out, neighborhoods across the nation host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts, and other fun community events.

The City of Half Moon Bay encourages residents to host block parties on National Night Out on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. The City will help jump-start block parties by offering a $150 gift card that will help offset the costs of putting on a great neighborhood block party. This small grant can be used to pay for food, beverages, decorations, rent tables, and chairs, or whatever their block party needs to be a success. Get more information by contacting Carlo Wei at 650-726-8254 or cwei@hmbcity.com . If your neighborhood is outside the HMB city limits and Coastside CERTs are involved with organizing the event, Coastside CERT will reimburse up to $100 per neighborhood for National Night Out expenses.  

National Night Out is a wonderful opportunity for Coastside residents to get together, meet new people, re-connect with neighbors, and just spend a couple of relaxing hours in an informal social setting. Getting to know and staying in touch with neighbors enhances neighborhood safety and well-being, and makes it easier for neighbors to look out for each other - and that's great for our entire community. Depending on the number of block parties and staff availability, the City will try to schedule a visit by a fire truck or Sheriff's vehicle. Most neighbors hold their National Night Out events between 6 and 9 pm.

Participating neighborhoods: 

• Montara - Post Office on Montara's Main St.

• West Miramar (6) - 2805 Alameda Ave; 310 Washington Blvd; 206 Washington Blvd; 310 Roosevelt; 2905 Pullman; 59 Santa Rosa Ave

• Sea Haven - 5:30 - 8:30  132 Jib Court

• Kehoe/Casa del Mar (2) - 6:30-8:00 Antoinette Court; 408 St John Ave

• Highland Park - 6:00-8:00 664 Terrace Ave

• Downtown Half Moon Bay - Library

• Pilarcitos Park (3) - 404 Kelly; 469 Pine Ave; 550 Willow Ave

• Alsace Lorraine - 320 Miramontes Ave

• Arleta Park (2) - 419 Seymour St; 212 Spruce St.

• Ocean Corner - 390 Troon Way

• Cañada Cove (7) - 7 Canada Cove Ave; 86 Seascape Dr; 7 Creekside Dr; 61 Creekside Dr; 14 Lighthouse Rd; 3 Sand Dunes Ct; 43 Oceanview Ave

5 San Mateo County Disaster Preparedness Day, Location: San Mateo Events Center, 10:00-2:00. FREE FAMILY FRIENDLY FUN! Experience resources, classes and interactive demonstrations including Emergency Medical Services, First Aid, School Safety,  Police and Fire activities. Lots of giveaways and fun big emergency trucks to explore. Free hot dogs as long as supplies last. Everyone is invited!

Coastside CERT is sending a team of CERTs to staff a table offering unique Coastside emergency preparedness and response information and make on-stage presentations in English & Spanish.  We'd love to have you join us! Please reach out to CERT April L. at coastsidecert@gmail.com to be a part of our team proudly representing the Coastside at this SMC County event. For more information, go to www.smcdisasterprep.org or call 650-363-4790.

Enjoy the rest of summer! No more events or meetings in August except those organized by neighborhoods. 

September

17 Montara Art and Music Festival  11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Location: 5th St between LeConte & East. Everyone is invited!

Local Art: Local artists will be selling their art at the festival. Come and see what they have to offer.

Local Live Music: Live local Coastside music on 2 stages.  

Local Food: Sam's Chowder Mobile will be selling chowder and other foods from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Check out their menu: https://samschowdermobile.com/menus.html. Casita Vegana will be selling a vegan option.  Check out what looks good to you https://casitaveganasf.com/?fbclid=IwAR2oO2BbyTi_Dw5Dy1xINIPE287yf4nkWvGj3PymuVYOZwWmhxqf5M64l9Q

Kids Activities: Fun activities for kids during the event include face painting and arcade games and a kids' area.

23 Fourth Annual Great Coastside ShakeOut 9:30 a.m. in every Coastside neighborhood.

This is the one and only Coastside-wide radio communications drill centered on earthquake preparedness. Everyone is welcome to participate! For more info and to register for the short introductory webinar go to Training in the toolbar at the top of this page > Great Coastside Shakeout Questions? Please email CERT Jenny G at coastsidecert@gmail.com.

October

14-15 Pumpkin Festival

24 Chief Cosgrave's Prep Zoom for Fall CERT Volunteers coming to Training Day & Graduation on 11/11.  

25 Chief Cosgrave's Instructional Q&A Zoom to localize FEMA curriculum for Fall CERT online students. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

November

Fall CERT In-Person Basic Training Course Schedule - 3 classes + 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 In-person Class #1 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

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

4 In-person Class #2 Saturday 9:00-5:00

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

8 In-person Class #3 Wednesday 6:30-9:00

Disaster Psychology, Terrorism & CERT, Light Search & Rescue

11 Training Day & Graduation Saturday 9:00-4:00 

Orientation, Hands-On Skills Training, Disaster Simulation, Graduation

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.

VIDEOS
To check out our CERT videos on our VIMEO channel, click here.