Home/CERT Reference Guide/Field references

Field references

Official material from FEMA, Ready.gov, NOAA and the National Weather Service, CISA, OSHA, the U.S. Fire Administration and more, beyond the CERT course.

Hazard-Specific Guides Live Situational Awareness and Local Conditions Security and Active Threats Worker and Rescuer Safety Fire and Utility Safety Search and Rescue Incident Command and Coordination Volunteer and Partner Organizations Amateur Radio and Volunteer Communications Family and Community Preparedness

Hazard-Specific Guides

FEMACERT Hazard-Specific AnnexOfficial hazard annex slide decks that CERT programs can add to Basic Training, covering 13 hazards: earthquake, wildfire, flood, extreme heat, hurricane, landslide, severe thunderstorm, tornado, tsunami, volcano, winter storm, nuclear power plant emergency, and pandemic flu.fema.gov Ready.gov (FEMA)Hazard Information SheetsOne-page, print-friendly sheets for individual hazards — active shooter, earthquake, extreme heat, flood, hurricane, landslide, severe thunderstorm, tornado, tsunami, volcano, wildfire, winter storm, and pandemic.ready.gov NOAA / National Weather ServiceWeather Safety HubForecast information and safety guidance across every weather hazard — heat, flooding, lightning, thunderstorms, tornadoes, tsunamis, wildfire weather, wind, and winter weather.weather.gov USGSEarthquake TrackerLive, continuously updated map of earthquakes worldwide by magnitude and recency — the standard first stop for confirming an earthquake's location and size.earthquake.usgs.gov NOAA / National Weather ServiceTsunami Warning SystemOfficial U.S. tsunami warnings, watches, and advisories in real time.tsunami.gov NOAANational Hurricane CenterOfficial tracking, forecasts, and advisories for active tropical storms and hurricanes.nhc.noaa.gov National Weather ServiceLive National Weather RadarReal-time national radar mosaic — precipitation, severe storm cells, and rotation signatures.radar.weather.gov Interagency (USFS / NWCG)InciWeb — Wildfire Incident ReportingThe system U.S. wildland fire agencies use to post active wildfire details — size, containment, and evacuation information.inciweb.wildfire.gov EPA / U.S. Forest Service / NOAA (AirNow)Fire and Smoke MapCombines wildfire locations with real-time and forecast smoke/air-quality data — useful for respiratory-risk decisions, not just fire location.fire.airnow.gov FEMAFlood Map Service CenterOfficial flood hazard maps (FIRMs) for any address — flood zone designation, base flood elevation, and map panels.msc.fema.gov USGSVolcano HazardsCurrent volcano alert levels and hazard information for U.S. volcanoes.usgs.gov USGSU.S. Landslide InventoryMap of documented landslide events and susceptibility across the United States.usgs.maps.arcgis.com NOAASpace Weather Prediction CenterOfficial alerts for solar storms and geomagnetic activity that can disrupt power grids, GPS, and communications.swpc.noaa.gov United Nations / European Commission (GDACS)Global Disaster Alert and Coordination SystemNear-real-time alert system aggregating major earthquakes, cyclones, floods, volcanoes, and other sudden-onset disasters worldwide.gdacs.org U.S. Nuclear Regulatory CommissionNuclear Facilities by Region/StateLook up licensed nuclear power plants and other NRC-regulated facilities near a given area — background for the nuclear power plant emergency hazard annex.nrc.gov FEMANational Risk IndexLook up any U.S. county's relative risk ranking across 18 natural hazards — a good starting point for knowing which hazard annexes matter most locally. Delivered through FEMA's Resilience Analysis and Planning Tool (RAPT).hazards.fema.gov National Weather ServiceActive Weather AlertsLive map and list of every active watch, warning, and advisory currently in effect nationwide.weather.gov

Live Situational Awareness and Local Conditions

Connecticut DOTCTRoads — Live Traffic & Road ConditionsConnecticut's official live traffic map — incidents, construction, and travel-time data for state roads.ctroads.org WazeWaze Live Traffic MapCrowdsourced, real-time road conditions, closures, and hazards reported directly by drivers.waze.com DowndetectorDownDetectorCrowdsourced outage reports for utilities, telecom, banking, and other services — a fast read on whether an outage is local or wide-reaching.downdetector.com BroadcastifyBroadcastify — Live Public-Safety RadioLive-streamed fire, EMS, and police dispatch radio feeds, searchable by location.broadcastify.com U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesHospital UtilizationFederal dashboard of hospital capacity and utilization data by facility and region.protect-public.hhs.gov U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesHHS emPOWER MapIdentifies how many Medicare beneficiaries in an area depend on electricity-powered medical equipment — useful for prioritizing outreach during power outages.empowerprogram.hhs.gov American Red CrossRed Cross Mobile AppsA suite of free apps — Emergency, First Aid, Flood, Hurricane, Tornado, and Wildfire — with real-time alerts, safety checklists, and shelter locations, all working offline once downloaded.redcross.org

Security and Active Threats

CISAActive Shooter PreparednessPocket card and preparedness action guide covering how to recognize warning signs and respond to an active shooter or targeted-violence situation.cisa.gov DHSNational Terrorism Advisory SystemDHS's official public alert system for terrorism-related threats — shows the current bulletin, if any, and its details.dhs.gov

Worker and Rescuer Safety

OSHAWorker Safety Publications & QuickCardsFact sheets and QuickCards on PPE selection, hazard communication, and other worker-safety topics — a deeper reference behind the PPE CERT members are trained to wear.osha.gov OSHAHeat Illness PreventionRecognizing, treating, and preventing heat-related illness in workers and volunteers — directly relevant to rehab and responder safety on a hot scene.osha.gov

Fire and Utility Safety

U.S. Fire AdministrationHome Fire Escape PlansGuidance for mapping exits, identifying two ways out of every room, and practicing a home fire drill — the household-level companion to CERT fire-safety training.usfa.fema.gov American Red CrossSound the Alarm / Home Fire CampaignHome fires claim seven lives a day on average, but a working smoke alarm cuts that risk in half. The Red Cross installs free smoke alarms and helps build escape plans — sign up for a home visit, or volunteer at a local Sound the Alarm event.redcross.org PowerOutage.usPowerOutage.USNear-real-time power outage counts by state and utility, updated every few minutes.poweroutage.us

Search and Rescue

FEMANational Urban Search & Rescue (US&R) Response SystemThe federal system of task forces that respond to structural-collapse disasters — the professional "heavy" search and rescue system that CERT's light search and rescue training feeds into.fema.gov OSHAStructural Collapse GuideHazard recognition for anyone working around a collapsed or damaged structure — secondary collapse, unstable debris, and knowing when a scene is too dangerous to enter.osha.gov

Incident Command and Coordination

FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-315.a: CERT and the Incident Command SystemFree self-paced course on how CERT teams integrate into the Incident Command System — how professional responders expect CERT to organize and report.training.fema.gov U.S. Census BureauOnTheMap for Emergency ManagementShows where residents of a declared disaster area work and where the area's workforce lives — useful context for understanding population movement and impact.onthemap.ces.census.gov FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-100.c: Introduction to ICSFree self-paced course covering the fundamentals of the Incident Command System — the foundation IS-315 builds on for CERT specifically.training.fema.gov FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-700.b: An Introduction to NIMSFree self-paced course on the National Incident Management System — the common framework ICS and CERT both operate within.training.fema.gov FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-200.c: Basic ICS for Initial ResponseThe next step after IS-100 — ICS for personnel likely to supervise a single resource or a small team during the initial response to an incident.training.fema.gov FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-800.d: National Response Framework, An IntroductionHow the whole community — government, private sector, nonprofits, and volunteers — coordinates under the National Response Framework during a disaster.training.fema.gov FEMA Emergency Management InstituteIS-317.a: Introduction to CERTA free primer on the CERT program itself, distinct from IS-315's focus on ICS — often used as a prerequisite before taking CERT Basic Training in person.training.fema.gov FEMACommunity Emergency Response Team (CERT) ProgramFEMA's official national CERT program page — program history, how CERT fits into community preparedness, and how to find or start a local program.fema.gov

Volunteer and Partner Organizations

National Voluntary Organizations Active in DisasterNational VOADThe national coordinating body for the voluntary organizations that respond alongside CERT and other responders during disasters.nvoad.org Team RubiconTeam RubiconA veteran-led disaster response organization — about 70% of its 200,000+ volunteers ("Greyshirts") are military veterans, though service isn't required to join. Deploys nationwide for everything from hurricanes and wildfires to long-term recovery work.teamrubiconusa.org U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (ASPR)Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)A national network of volunteers, including many non-medical roles, that responds to community health needs during emergencies — a common partner alongside CERT.aspr.gov

Amateur Radio and Volunteer Communications

ARRLARES — Amateur Radio Emergency ServiceThe volunteer licensed-radio operator network many CERT programs coordinate with when phone and internet networks are overloaded or down.arrl.org ARRLGetting Your Amateur Radio LicenseHow to study for and pass the entry-level Technician exam — the license required to join ARES.arrl.org

Family and Community Preparedness

American Red CrossHow to Prepare for EmergenciesHousehold preparedness checklists and guidance for building an emergency kit and family communication plan. (External content — copyrighted by the American Red Cross, linked here rather than reproduced.)redcross.org Ready.gov (FEMA)Family Emergency Communication PlanA fillable wallet card and planning document for household contacts, meeting points, and out-of-town check-in contacts.ready.gov Ready.gov (FEMA)Prepare Your Pets for DisastersEvacuation planning, pet emergency kits, and what to do when a shelter won't take animals.ready.gov SAMHSADisaster Distress HelplineFree, confidential crisis counseling for anyone experiencing distress related to a disaster — call or text 1-800-985-5990, 24/7, in multiple languages.samhsa.gov CDCKeep Food and Water Safe After a DisasterWhat food and water is safe to use after flooding or a power outage, and how to purify water when the normal supply is compromised.cdc.gov CDCWater, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in EmergenciesGuidance on sanitation, wastewater, and personal hygiene when normal services are disrupted — the public-health side of disaster medical operations.cdc.gov CDCPrevent Getting Hurt or Sick After a DisasterFloodwater hazards, wound care and infection risk, and other injury/illness dangers in the cleanup period after a disaster.cdc.gov FEMAOffice of Disability Integration and CoordinationGuidance on planning for people with disabilities and access/functional needs — evacuation, sheltering, and communication considerations CERT outreach should account for.fema.gov American Red CrossTake a Class (CPR, First Aid & Disaster Training)Find in-person and online CPR, First Aid, AED, and disaster-training classes near you — a way to build on the CPR/AED/Heimlich basics covered in CERT training.redcross.org American Red CrossYouth Preparedness ProgramsFree classroom disaster-education programs for kids: Prepare with Pedro (grades K-3, storybook-based) and the Pillowcase Project (grades 3-5, in-person "Learn, Practice, Share" sessions) — useful if your CERT program does school or community outreach.redcross.org

Each link goes to the agency's own website, which keeps its material current; nothing here is copied from them. A CERT Field Operations Guide is not included: the versions in wide use are a commercial publication, not FEMA's.