Disaster response volunteering in Palo Alto

Palo Alto sits between the San Andreas and Hayward faults, below wildfire country in the foothills and beside a creek that damaged about 1,700 properties when it flooded in 1998. In a large disaster, fire and police crews can be stretched thin for hours or days. That is why the city trains residents to organize their blocks, give basic first aid and keep radio contact when phones go down.

This guide explains the city's Emergency Services Volunteer program, its CERT training and the American Red Cross roles open to Palo Alto residents in 2026. For how to prepare your own household, read our emergency preparedness guide and our earthquake safety guide.

The Emergency Services Volunteer program

The city's Office of Emergency Services (OES), based at the Public Safety Building at 250 Sherman Avenue, runs the Emergency Services Volunteer program, known as ESV. It is open to anyone who lives or works in Palo Alto. The city's ESV page describes three main tracks:

Block coordinators report to Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinators, who gather reports from across a neighborhood and pass them to the city.

How to join

1. Pick a track and attend its training: the BPC class or the CERT basic course.
2. Fill out and submit the ESV volunteer registration form.
3. The ESV program administrator reviews your application and connects you with a team.

Questions go to [email protected] or (650) 617-3197. The ESV page does not list a minimum age, so ask if you are registering a teenager.

CERT basic training

CERT, the Community Emergency Response Team program, prepares residents to help themselves and their neighbors in a disaster. Palo Alto runs the course twice a year. The fall 2026 session looked like this:

Topics are earthquake awareness, disaster fire suppression, disaster medical operations, first aid and CPR, light search and rescue plus team organization. The course ends with a disaster simulation. The city also posted a spring session in March 2026, so the next course is likely in spring 2027. Watch the city calendar for dates. People who have not taken a CERT refresher in five years are encouraged to retake it. See the fall 2026 listing for the format. Our Mitchell Park guide covers parking.

Block Preparedness Coordinators

Being a BPC is the lightest commitment in the program and probably the most useful one for an ordinary street. Before a disaster you meet neighbors, learn who might need extra help, such as an older resident living alone. You also collect contact details. After one you walk the block, check on people and report serious problems up the chain.

The introductory class is free and open to the public. The city held sessions on March 18 and June 24, 2026; the June class ran from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Public Safety Building. Watch the city's events calendar for the next date or take the online version.

Emergency radio volunteers

When cell networks jam or go dark, Palo Alto's Auxiliary Communications Services team keeps messages moving by amateur radio and other radio systems around Palo Alto and the Bay Area. You do not need a license to join. Licensed operators and newcomers both have roles. Contact OES at [email protected] for details.

American Red Cross

The Red Cross Silicon Valley Chapter covers Santa Clara County, including Palo Alto. It says it serves more than 1.9 million people with the support of more than 1,500 local volunteers.

• Disaster Action Team: volunteers on call to respond to local emergencies such as home fires, bringing comfort and support to families on the worst day of their lives.
• Duty Officers: coordinate responses from home.
• Large disasters: trained volunteers help run shelters and provide food and care when a wildfire or flood displaces many people.
• Blood services and office roles: greeting blood donors, clerical support and donor calls.

The national Red Cross says a quarter of its volunteers are 24 or younger and that it has roles for many ages. Age rules vary by position. Apply through the Volunteer Connection system linked from the Red Cross volunteer page. For help applying, email [email protected] or call 1-844-621-4243.

Working through your neighborhood

The ESV structure runs block by block, so it works best when neighbors join together. Palo Alto has 38 neighborhood associations, listed by the umbrella group Palo Alto Neighborhoods. Some already have preparedness volunteers. Ask yours whether it has a Neighborhood Preparedness Coordinator and which blocks still lack a coordinator. If yours does not, email [email protected] and ask how to fill the gap. One trained coordinator on a block of 20 or 30 homes can make a real difference in the first day after an earthquake, when outside help may be slow to arrive. Our neighborhood associations guide lists how to find your group.

Staying ready after training

Training fades if you never use it. A few habits keep skills current:

• Refresh CERT every few years. The city encourages anyone who has not taken a refresher in five years to sit the course again.
• Keep your kit stocked. CERT members are expected to look after their own households first, so keep water, food, medicine and a flashlight at home.
• Practice your block list. Walk your block once a year and update names, phone numbers and who might need extra help.
• Sign up for alerts. Our preparedness guide explains the county and city alert systems.

Which role fits you

For other kinds of volunteering, see our main volunteering guide.

Frequently asked questions