This instructor guide provides the foundational knowledge and practical skills necessary to train community members in disaster preparedness and response. It outlines the CERT Basic Training program, designed to empower individuals to assist themselves, their families, and their neighbors when professional emergency services are overwhelmed or unavailable following a catastrophic event. The curriculum focuses on essential life-saving techniques and property protection measures applicable in scenarios of isolation due to disaster scale, communication failures, or impassable infrastructure. The guide emphasizes the importance of teamwork and practice in maximizing individual and community resilience.

As an official training manual from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), this guide is designed to be a definitive resource for instructors delivering the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Basic Training. Its content is structured to ensure a standardized and effective delivery of critical disaster preparedness knowledge. The manual's authority stems directly from its source, providing a reliable framework for community resilience education. It serves as a foundational document for individuals seeking to contribute to their community's safety and well-being in the face of emergencies.