Now five years into volunteering with the police department, Mercer manages the Emergency Operations Center and is coordinating the first-ever Community Emergency Response Team program for Los Gatos and Monte Sereno.

"People don't really think much about emergency response until there's an emergency," Mercer said. But, he adds, "Once you're prepared, maybe you can help somebody else."

That idea is the force driving members of the police department to establish a CERT program in town. The training consists of 20 hours of instruction, with meetings held each Tuesday for five weeks and culminating with a disaster simulation exercise one Saturday morning. Throughout the course, instructors will address the topics of disaster preparedness, fire suppression, medical operations, light search and rescue, terrorism, disaster psychology and team organization.

Graduates of the program will receive certificates, identification cards verifying them as CERT members, hard hats and vests, said Sgt. Kerry Harris. They will then have the chance to work with other CERT members in their neighborhood to establish a communication link with the police department during an emergency. CERT members can phone in and let police know what the situation is like in their respective neighborhoods and to assist in some rescue missions in case roads are closed and law enforcement officers can't get to the scene.

"Ultimately, we'll have all the neighborhoods in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno reporting back in," Harris said.

The first CERT class is scheduled to run July 15 through Aug. 16, and fall participants will begin instruction Sept. 2. All instructors for the local CERT program are volunteers, with most coming from the police department's search and rescue unit, Disaster Aid Response Team or Volunteers in Policing.

Anyone age 16 and above may sign up; parental permission slips are required of those under 18. Organizers say they hope to keep the classes between 35 and 40 people and to hold four sets of classes per year.

"There is definitely a place within the CERT organization for anyone," Harris said. "Physical needs can be accommodated."

Organizers have yet to determine how much it will cost for participants to join, but early estimates suggest it will run between $20 and $30, with the fee waived or reduced for those with financial hardship. The first set of classes from July through August will be offered free as a way to promote the program, Harris said.

CERT began in Los Angeles in 1985 and has grown to become a national program, with more than 65 courses in the state alone. The cities of Cupertino and Campbell already provide this program, and Saratoga will also introduce one this summer.

Marsha Hovey, emergency services coordinator for Cupertino, has seen more than 450 people go through the city's program. Having CERT members work with their neighbors to coordinate an emergency response system "lets the neighbors get to know each other" and is a "great way to keep that small community feeling," she said.

"I'm applauding Los Gatos for taking this on. The citizens will see the value of it once they take this class," she said.

For more information or to apply, call the CERT hotline at 408.399.5722 or email CERT@town.los-gatos.ca.us.