The city of La Joya is looking for volunteers to join their Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT.

The volunteer group would assist the city's first responders in a major emergency or natural disaster. The city will teach them how to direct traffic in evacuations or give basic medical care.

La Joya Police Chief Ramon Gonzalez said the volunteers will also help first responders focus on bigger tasks.

"A lot of times, as first responders, we get held up with calls. So a CERT team is ideal so they can respond too," Gonzalez said.

Becoming a CERT volunteer requires 20 hours of training or four classes, all offered by the city for free. 

The first class is Saturday, April 27. So far, 11 people have signed up, but the city would like to have at least 20.

For more information, call the city at 956-581-7002 or stop by city hall, located at 701 E. Expressway 83