Transcript CERT Community Emergency Response Team Executive Briefing

Community Emergency
Response Team
CERT
Executive Briefing
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Why CERT???
 Following a major disaster, first
responders who provide fire and
medical services will not be able to
meet the demand for these services.
 Number of victims, communication
failures, and road blockages will prevent
people from accessing emergency
services they have come to expect at a
moment's notice
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Why CERT???
 People will have to rely on each other
for help in order to meet their immediate
life saving and life sustaining needs.
 Under these conditions, family
members, fellow employees, and
neighbors will spontaneously try to help
each other.
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The Need to be Ready
In 95% of all emergencies,
bystanders or victims themselves
are the first to provide
emergency assistance or
to perform a rescue
Los Angeles Fire Department
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Case in Point…
 Mexico City earthquake
– Untrained, spontaneous volunteers saved
800 people.
– However, 100 people lost their lives while
attempting to save others.
 This is a high price to pay and is
preventable through training.
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What can government do to prepare
citizens for this eventuality?
 First, present citizens the facts about
what to expect following a major
disaster in terms of immediate services.
 Second, give the message about their
responsibility for mitigation and
preparedness.
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What can government do to prepare
citizens for this eventuality?
 Third, train them in needed life saving
skills with emphasis on decision making
skills, rescuer safety, and doing the
greatest good for the greatest number.
 Fourth, organize teams so that they are
an extension of first responder services
offering immediate help to victims until
professional services arrive.
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CERT History
 Los Angeles Fire Department 1985
 Emergency response overloaded; citizens
“on their own”
 Basic training – survival, rescue
 “Civilians” helping neighbors until other
assistance arrives
 FEMA adopted & promotes concept
 President Bush’s creation of Citizen Corps
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What does CERT do?
~Individual Preparedness
 Furthers the process of citizens
understanding their responsibility in
preparing for disaster.
 Increases their ability to safely help
themselves, their family and their neighbors.
 Individuals will be better prepared to
respond to and cope with the aftermath of a
disaster.
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What does CERT do?
~Community Preparedness
 Civilians can be recruited and trained as
neighborhood and business teams that, in
essence, will be auxiliary responders.
 Benefits of CERT…
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Benefits of CERT
 Trained, organized volunteers
 Support to first responders
 Provide immediate assistance to
victims
 Organize spontaneous volunteers at a
disaster site
 Collect disaster intelligence to support
first responder efforts
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What CERT is…
 CERT is about readiness, people
helping people, rescuer safety, and
doing the greatest good for the greatest
number.
 CERT is a positive and realistic
approach to emergency and disaster
situations where citizens will be initially
on their own and their actions can make
a difference.
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Link with Professional Responders
 Coordination with local Citizen’s Corps
Councils and local emergency services
are essential to CERT success
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Course Overview
The scope of the course includes:
 Fire safety.
 Emergency medical operations.
 Light search and rescue.
 CERT organization.
 Disaster psychology.
 CERTs and terrorism.
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Community Delivery
 The CERT training for community groups
is usually delivered in 2 1/2 hour sessions,
one evening a week over a 7 week period.
 After these weekly sessions, the program
culminates into a large group exercise.
 Multi-agency, multi-discipline instructors.
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CERT Liability
 #1 – Consult with your legal counsel
 Limit exposure and liability
 Consent, waiver forms for participants
 Adhere to established training and
curriculum standards
 Ensure that participants understand
their scope of practice
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Laws that Protect Volunteers
 CERTs are considered "Good Samaritans"
and covered under the Volunteer Protection
Act.
 CERT volunteers do not have any authority
beyond serving as "Good Samaritan" when
helping others.
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Laws that Protect Volunteers
 NYS Defense Emergency Act
 NYS Executive Law Article 2B
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CERT Funding
 A variety of local approaches to obtaining funds.
 Some communities build costs into their budget
while others charge participants to cover costs for
instructors and course materials.
 In some communities, CERT organizations have
filed for 501(C)3 (non-profit organization) status,
thus allowing them to do fund raising.
 Grants to communities.
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Program Responsibilities
State responsibilities:
–T-t-T courses
–Curriculum coordination
Local responsibilities:
–Course delivery
–Materials and equipment costs
–Team/program management
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