1. Assist emergency services personnel when requested in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

2. Assume some of the same functions as emergency services personell following a disaster.

3. Prepare families and communities prior to emergencies 

   1. assist neighbors during an emergency when first responders are immediately available.

4. This training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster.

1. Government leaders and the public sector

2. Community leaders for the private and civic sectors

3. The public, including volunteer groups, faith based groups, and tribal communities

The government has the responsibility to 

1. develop

2. test

3. refine

   1. Emergency operations plans

4. Ensure emergency responders have adequate skills and resources.

5. Provide services to protect and assist its citizens.

6. Involve the community in the planning process

7. Incorporate community resources in the plans

8. Provide reliable, actionable information

9. encourage

   1. training

   2. practicing

   3. volunteering

Government emergency service providers include professionals from the following fields:

1. Emergency Management

2. Emergecy Medical Services

3. Fire and Rescue 

4. Human Services

5. Law enforcement

6. Public health services

7. Public works

Coordinates all government activities before an emergency or disaster.

The EOP is a document that:

1. Assigns responsibility to organizations and individuals for carrying out specific actions at projected times and places:

   1. in an emergency that exceeds the capability or routine responsibility of any one agency.

2. Sets forth lines of authority and organizational relationships

   1. shows how all actions will be coordinated

3. Describes how to protect people and property in emergencies and disasters.

4. Identifies personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies and other resources available.

   1. within the jurisdiction or by agreement with other jurisdictions

      1. for use during recovery operations

The EOP describes how the community will function during an emergency.

Community leaders from the private and civic sectors have a responsibility to participate in community preparedness.

Their responsibilities include.

1. Participating on the local collaborative planning council to provide insights and perspectives.

2. Reflecting their industry or the constituency they service.

3. people with disabilities

4. local schools

5. communities with language or cultural differeneces

6. small businesses

7. the economically disadvantaged

8. and communities of faith

9. Identifying and integrating appropriate resources into government plans

10. Ensuring facilities, staff, and customers or population served are prepared, trained and practiced in preparedness actions.

The public also has a responsibility for preparedness; all members of the community should:

1. Learn about the community 

   1. alerts and warnings

   2. Evacuation routes

   3. and how to get critical information

2. Take training and preparedness

   1. first aid and response skills

   2. Practice skill and personal plans through periodic drills in multiple settings

   3. network and be able to help others

   4. Participate in community feedback opportunities

   5. Report suspicious activity

   6. Volunteer

1. Engage the full capacity of society in a dialogue to increase 

   1. disaster preparedness and 

   2. resilience.

2. The full capacity of society is a reference to all the partners within a community.

   1. who should engage in community preparedness.

      1. Governement entities

      2. non-governmental organizations

      3. faith-based organizations

      4. schools

      5. nonprofit-groups

      6. private sector entities

      7. Grass roots level

         1. individuals

         2. families

         3. local communities

         4. social networks

3. Community Coalitions

   1. organized collaborative bodies within a community such as:

      1. Citizen corps

         1. to foster and strengthen relationships throughout the community

            1. Relationships are the fabric that makes a community stronger and more resilient after disasters.

4. Social Capital

   1. the value we place on our relationships with one another

5. A functioning community 

   1. is based on complex and interdependent systems driven by human forces.

   2. Community coalitions bring government and community leaders together.

      1. to ensure emergency plans more effectively reflect the communities 

         1. needs

         2. challenges

         3. capabilities

         4.  resources.

Steps to get involved;

1. Preparedness requires active participation from all.

   1. Start the process by talking to your friends and family about the hazards in your area.

      1. discuss the steps you need to take to help each other in a crisis

   2. Ask about emergency planning  

   3. at your workplace , 

   4. schools, 

   5. places of worship, 

   6. community organized events.

2. Make sure those individuals in charge have a plan and are connected to community authorities on emergency management and planning.

3. Take training to Acquire the skills you need to help others and 

   1. keep your skills current through refresher training and practice.

4. Participate in the CERT Program to provide

   1. Training

   2. Practice

   3. connection with others to develop teams

5. Plan to participate in drills and exercises

6. Talk to your friends and family about volunteering

CERT volunteers will generally respond to large scale events in their communities.

The scope of this CERT training does not cover pandemics

The key common elements of disasters:

1. They are unexpected

   1. with little or no warning

2. Increased demands for resources 

   1. may initially overwhelm available response personnel and emergency services.

3. They endanger

   1. lives 

   2. health

   3. The environment

4. In the immediate aftermath of a disaster,

   1. needs are often greater than professional emergency services can provide.

   2. CERTs become a vital link in the emergency service chain.

5. Understanding Local Hazard Vulnerabilities

   1. Assessing your community's vulnerability to hazards allows the community 

      1. to prioritize preparedness measures

      2. to target effective actions for the appropriate hazard

      3. to assess your community's vulnerability to hazards

         1. Identify the most common hazards that occur

         2. Identify possible hazards with most sever impact

         3. Consider recent and or historical/impacts

         4. Identify susceptible locations in the community for specific hazards

            1. buildings

            2. Infracstructure

         5. Consider what to expect for disruption of services and length of restoration.

Infrastructure risks and possible impacts

1. Transportation

   1. roads are closed or impassible

   2. Responders may be delayed in reaching areas of need

   3. Flow of needed supplies

2. Structures

   1. Damaged Critical Facilities

      1. Hospitals

      2. Fire stations

      3. Police precincts

      4. airports

3. Communications systems

   1. Survivors unable to phone for help or reach service providers

   2. Coordination of services is hampered

   3. Families and friends cannot communicate

4. Utilities

   1. Loss of service

   2. Increased risk of fire or electrical shock

   3. Limited access to fuel (Pumps may not work)

5. Water service

   1. Medical facilities hampered

   2. Inadequate water flow

      1. notice to boil water

      2. hampered firefighting capabilities

6. Fuel Supplies

   1. Increased risk of fire or explosion from fuel line rupture

   2. Flow or fuel is interrupted by impassable roads

7. Financial Services

   1. ATMs do not work

   2. Credit Card systems inoperable

Infrastructure damage during a disaster:

1. Each instance of damage to infrastructure may severely restrict the abilities of police, fire, and emergency medical services in that disaster.

2. Emergency room personnel prioritize resources based on the severity of each injury.

3. For Emergency room personnel,

   1. life threatening injuries take the highest priority

During or after a disaster;

1. Emergency services must prioritize resources according tothe highest priority need.

   1. Police will address incidents of grave public safety

   2. Firefighters will suppress major fires

   3. EMS personnel will handle life threatening injuries.

      1. CERTs may also handle life threatening injuries util EMS units become available

   4. lower priority needs will be met in other ways.

Key findings on individual preparedness

1. 68 % of respondents reported having enough supplies to get through 3 days

2. 63% of respondents reported having taken steps to safegaurd critical documents

3. 39% of respondents reported having sought preparedness information within the past year

4. 27% of respondents reported having talke to other about getting prepared within the past year

5. 18% of respondents reported having attended a preparedness meeting/training within the past year.

1. understand the hazard or hazards that are most relevent to your community

2. learn about 

   1. local alerts and warning systems

   2. evacuation routes

   3. sheltering plans

3. Familiarize yourself with hazards in other areas

   1. that you may encounter while traveling

Important elements of disaster preparedness

1. having the skills to evaluate the situation quickly

   1. take effective action to protect yourself

2. Having a family disaster plan

   1. practicing the plan with drills

3. Assembling supplies in multiple locations

4. Reducing the impact of hazards through mitigation practices

5. Getting involved by participating in training and volunteer programs

You should create a family disaster plan that includes:

1. Where will you meet family members?

   1. You should have a location outside the house where you will meet family members.

   2. You should have a location outside the neighborhood where you will meet family members.

2. Identify an out-of-state "check-in contact"

3. Plan for all possibilities

   1. extended stay

   2. sheltering in place

   3. evacuation

4. How you will escape buildings where you spend time

   1. your home

   2. your workplace

   3. school

   4. place of worship

5. What Route (and several alternatives) will you use to evacuate

6. Do you have transportation?

The most important factor when a disaster strikes

1. To make the most informed decision regarding your families safety

   1. consider what option is best given the situation

   2. Practice your plan with your family

      1. evacuating the home

      2. contacting all family members

         1. using your check-in contact

2. Creating a Family Disaster Plan

   1. To get started

      1. Contact your local emergency management office

      2. Contact your local chapter of the american red cross

         1. Find out which disasters are most likely to happen in your community

         2. ask how you would receive warnings about the event

         3. Find out how to prepare for each type of disaster

      3. Meet with your family

         1. Discuss the types of disasters that could occur.

         2. Explain how to prepare and respond

         3. Discuss what to do if advised to evacuate

         4. Practice what you have discussed

      4. Plan how your family will stay in contact if seperated by a disaster.

         1. Pick two meeting places

            1. A location a safe distance from your home in case of fire

            2. A place outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return

         2. Choose an out-of-state friend as a "check in contact" for everyone to call

            1. Make sure the person selected understands that they are your out-of-state contact in case of emergency

               1. what you would expect of them should such an emergency arise

            2. Give your check-in contact person a list of pertinent people to contact. be sure to include phone numbers

            3. Periodically practice using your local an out of state contacts as if it were an emergency

         3. Prepare a business car size list of family and friends phone numbers

            1. Print one out for each family member

               1. FEMA family communications plan

               2. as a security measure Do not specify relationships

      5. Complete the following steps

         1. Post emergency telephone numbers by every home phone

         2. Show responsible family members how and when to shut off 

            1. water

            2. gas

            3. electricity at main switches

         3. Install a smoke alarm on each level of your home

            1. near bedrooms

         4. install a carbon monoxide alarm

            1. near bedrooms

         5. Test alarms monthly

            1. Change batteries when you change your clocks in the spring and fall

         6. Contact your local fire department to learn about home fire hazards

         7. Learn first aid and CPR

            1. Contact your local chapter of the

               1. american red cross

               2. american heart association

               3. national safety council

                  1. for information and training

         8. meet with your neighbors

            1. Plan how the neighborhood could work together after a disaster

            2. Know your neighbors skills

               1. work with other community partners

            3. Consider how you could help neighbor

               1. including elderly or individuals who have functional needs

            4. Make plans for childcare in case parents cannot get home

Assembling and storing disaster supplies

1. You can cope best by preparing for a disaster before it strikes

   1. assemble disaster supplies in multiple locations

2. After disaster strikes

   1. you may not have time to shop or search for supplies

   2. if you have gathered supplies in advance

      1. you and your family can endure evacuation or home confinement.

To prepare your disaster supply kit

1. Review the checklist on the next few pages.

2. Gather the supplies from the list. 

   1. make sure to return items to the emergency kit

3. Place supplies you are likely to need for an evacuation in an easy-to-carry container.

   1. These supplies are listed with an asterisk

Notes Regarding your disaster supply kit

1. Store water in plastic containers

   1. such as soft drink bottles

2. Look for the triangular recycling symbol

   1. number 1 is best for water storage

   2. Avoid using containers that will degrade quickly or break

3. Wash the bottle with the soap and warm water

   1. fill with water from your tap

   2. store in a cool, dark area away from direct sunlight

4. Replace your emergency water every six months

   1. repeating the water bottle cleaning process (plastic bottles degrade over time with exposure to UV light)

5. Keep in mind 

   1. A normally active person needs to drink at least 2 quarts of water each day

   2. Hot environments and activity can double that

   3. children, nursing mothers, and ill people will need more

6. store at least 1 gallon of water per person

   1. per day

      1. 3 quarts for drinking

      2. 1 quart for food preparation and sanitation

7. Keep at least a 3-day supply of water for each person in your household.

8. to purify water

   1. heat water to boiling for 1 minute

   2. use commercial purification tablets

      1. use chlorine bleach if it is pure 5.25-6.0 % sodium hypochlorite

         1. do not use perfumed bleach

      2. After adding bleach shake or stir the water container and let it stand for 30 minutes

   3. Water quantity to Bleach added

      1. 1 quart-4 drops

      2. 1 gallon-8drops

      3. 4 gallons-1/3 teaspoon

9. Food and kitchen Items

   1. store at least a 3-day supply of non-perishable food.

   2. Select foods that require

      1. no refridgeration

      2. no preparation

      3. no cooking

      4. little to no water added

   3. If you must heat food

      1. pack a can of solid gel fuel

   4. select food items that are compact and lightweight

      1. Avoid salty foods if water supply is short

      2. Check expiration dates bi-annually

1. Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.

2. This kit should not supplement or replace a supply kit

Remember family members with special needs, such as infants and elderly or those with access and functional needs.

Supplies marked with an asterisk (*) can also be used for evacuation.

Develop an escape plan that

1. provides for escape from every room of your home

2. Every area of your workplace

   1. Consider the needs of children and individuals with access and functional needs

   2. Inform all family members or office coworkers of the plan

   3. Run practice escape drills

   4. All disasters have unique attributes

   5. so it is important for you to realize

   6. you may need to evaluate the circumstances to determine the best course of action.

3. Staying or changing location is a critical early decision in disasters

   1. If you are not in immediate danger

      1. you should stay where you are and get more information before taking your next steps

         1. 1. Thinking through the likely hazards in your community and where you might be when an event occurs

               1. May help you visualize a response

      2. consider your own circumstances and thosse of your household

   2. Elderly persons and individuals

      1. with access and functional needs

         1. may need to evacuate well in advance of official notice or before the situation turns dangerous.

         2. you may need to make the first immediate decision to stay inside or go outside or to shelter in place by sealing a room without authoritative instruction

            1. it is important to listen to authorities when they provide that information.

               1. If experts or local officials tell you to evacuate from your location during a disaster, leave.

4. Seek clean airand protect breathing passages

   1. Regardless of the type of disaster

      1. clean air is a critical need

   2. Actions to protect your breathing passages and to seek clean air

      1. may include covering your mouth with a cloth or mask

      2. vacating the building

      3. or sheltering in place by sealing an internal room

         1. while the airborne contaminant dissipates

   3. Protect yourself from debris and signal rescuers if trapped.

      1. Protecting yourself from falling or precarious debris

         1. is an essential protective action

      2. If trapped protect your airways

         1. bang on an object

         2. blow a whistle

      3. yelling should be a last resort

   4. Remove contaminants

      1. if contaminants are released into the area or you encounter liquid or solid contaminants

         1. quickly remove contaminated clothing before washing yourself with soap and water

         2. starting at the head and working toward the feet

   5. Practice good hygiene

      1. good hygiene is preventative measure for spreading disease and it is important to be mindful of hygiene in a post disaster environment. 

      2. Clean drinking water and sanitation are important protective actions.

1. Shelter in place

   1. Sealing a room is a way to protect yourself from contaminants in the air for a short period until contaminants dissipate.

   2. you should identify an internal room in

      1. your home

      2. at work

      3. or other locations

2. If you are required to shelter in place

   1. you will be in this room for only a few hours

      1. it is important that you are able to seal the room quickly.

   2. storing specific items in the room is helpful.

   3. You should have snacks and water

   4. a battery operated radio

   5. flashlight

   6. pre-cut plastic sheeting

      1. duct tape to seal off vents and door and window openings

3. Shelter for extended stay

   1. Sheltering for an extended stay means you would stay where you are for several days

      1. in the case of a pandemic

         1. authorities may as you to limit your time outside the home for up two weeks

         2. it is important to store emergency supplies for these possibilities

4. Mass care/community shelter

   1. These shelters often provide 

      1. water, 

      2. food, 

      3. medicine,

      4.  basic sanitary facilities

5. If possible, you should take your 3 day disaster supplies kit with you that you will be sure to have the supplies you require.

Mitigation is the reduction or loss of life and property by lessoning the impact of disasters

1. any activities that prevent an emergency

2. reduce the likelihood of occurrence

3. reduce the damaging effects of unavoidable hazards

4. A few examples include

   1. purchasing appropriate insurance

   2. taking structural and non structural measures

5. You should ensure your homeowners policy

   1. provide adequate coverage

   2. and covers appropriate hazards for your area

6. Homeowner insurance does not cover damage cause by flooding

   1. it is important to know whether you are in a flood hazard zone

      1. if you are it is strongly advised to purchase flood insurance

         1. Visit the national flood insurance program website

            1. www.floodsmart.gov

7. So mitigation measures require a bigger investment to address structural changes to reduce the impact of disasters

   1. other non-structural mitigation measures may include

      1. Relatively simple actions you can take to prevent home furnishings and appliances

         1. from causing damage or injuries during any event that might cause them to shift.

8. Home mitigation

   1. Structural 

      1. Bolt older houses to the foundation

      2. install trusses or hurricane straps to reinforce the roof

      3. Strap propane tanks and chimneys

      4. strap mobile homes to their concrete pads

      5. Raise utilities (above the level of flood risk)

      6. ask a professional to check the foundation, roof connections, chimney.

   2. non-structural

      1. Anchor furniture

         1. bookshelves

         2. hutches

         3. grandfather clocks

   3. Secure appliances and office equipment in place with industrial strength hook and loop fasteners

   4. Secure the cabinet doors with childproof fasteners

   5. Locate and label shutoffs for gas, electricity, and water before disasters occur

      1. after a disaster

         1. shut off the utilities as needed to prevent fires and other risks

   6. Teach all home occupants, including children who are old enough to handle the responsibility, when and how to shut off the important utilities.

1. Helmet

2. Goggles

3. N95 Mask

4. Gloves (work and non-latex) exam

5. Sturdy Shoes or boots

CERT volunteers are also a potential volunteer pool for the community.

They can help with non-emergency projects such-as;

1. Identifying and aiding neighbors and coworkers who might need assistance during an emergency or disaster.

2. Distributing preparedness materials and conducting preparedness demonstrations.

3. Staffing first aid booths and preparedness displays at

   1. health fairs

   2. county fairs

   3. and other special events

4. Assisting with the installation of smoke alarms for seniors and special needs households

5. Assisting with traffic and crowd management of large community events

6. By participating in non-emergency community projects

   1. CERT volunteers build recognition for the CERT program Within their community and raise overall awareness of community preparedness

   2. These events also provide CERT volunteers with valuable practice using the incident command system and operating with a partner.

Protection for disaster workers

1. "Good Samaritan" laws generally protect CERT volunteers who provide care in a prudent and reasonable manner.

2. The Volunteer Protection Act (VPA) of 1997 is a Federal law that protects volunteers from liability as long as they are acting in accordance with the training that they have recieved.

3. VPA protects CERT volunteers during a disaster

4. Volunteers have further protection under relevant state statutes where they reside.

For additional information

www.nonprofitrisk.org/app/uploads/2017/01/stateliability-laws.pdf

After completing intial CERT Training, many CERT volunteers:

1.  See to expand and improve their skills though continuing CERT modules offered locally.

2. Courses offered through the American Red Cross;

3. or programs from other sources

4. CERT volunteers have sought additional training opportunities

   1. Advanced First Aid

   2. Animal Issues in disasters

   3. Automated External Defribulator (AED)

   4. Community Relations

   5. CPR skills

   6. Debris removal

   7. Donations management

   8. HAM Radio

   9. Shelter management

   10. Special needs concerns

   11. Traffic and crowd control

   12. Utilities

There are also independent Study (IS) courses available online from FEMA that would be of interest to CERT volunteers. Some of these include.

1. IS-100 introduction to Incident Command System (ICS)

2. IS-200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents

3. IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS), an introduction

4. IS-800 National Response framework, an introduction

For a complete listing and access to FEMA IS courses visit www.training.FEMA.gov/IS/