| In the United States a Community Emergency | | | | not re-enter a burning building. |
| Response Team (CERT), sometimes known as a | | | | FEMA advises that families prepare a kit of |
| Neighborhood Emergency Response Team | | | | essential items that they will need to survive for |
| (NERT), or Neighborhood Emergency Team (NET), | | | | up to 72 hours after an emergency or disaster. |
| is a group of volunteer emergency workers who | | | | The following items are recommended for your |
| have received basic training in disaster | | | | kit: |
| preparedness, disaster fire suppression, basic | | | | Water, one gallon of water per person per day, |
| disaster medical operations, light search and | | | | for drinking and sanitation |
| rescue, and team operations. They are designed | | | | Food, at least a three-day supply of |
| to act as an auxiliary to existing emergency | | | | non-perishable food |
| responders in the event of a major disaster | | | | Battery-powered radio and a NOAA Weather |
| A local government, usually a city, attempts to | | | | Radio with tone alert, and extra batteries for both |
| recruit a CERT in each neighborhood. Most | | | | |
| governments with CERTs maintain a full-time | | | | Flashlight and extra batteries |
| community-service person as liaison to the | | | | First Aid kit |
| volunteers who form the rest of the organization. | | | | Whistle to signal for help |
| CERTs provide their own personnel, supplies, | | | | Dust mask or cotton t-shirt, to help filter the air |
| tools, organization and equipment, but they are | | | | Moist towelettes for sanitation |
| activated by, trained by, promoted by and liaise | | | | Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities |
| with the government. They are temporary | | | | Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food) |
| volunteer government workers, usually organized | | | | Plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place |
| as auxiliaries to the fire department. In some | | | | Unique family needs, such as daily prescription |
| areas, (such as California) during declared | | | | medications, infant formula or diapers, and |
| disasters, registered, activated CERT members | | | | important family documents |
| are eligible for worker's compensation for | | | | Garbage bags and plastic ties for personal |
| on-the-job injuries. | | | | sanitation |
| The Federal Emergency Management Agency | | | | Emergency reference material such as a first aid |
| (FEMA) recommends that the standard, | | | | book or a print out of this information |
| ten-person team be comprised as follows: | | | | Rain gear |
| Team Leader. (1 person) | | | | Mess kits, paper cups, plates and plastic utensils |
| Fire Suppression Team (2 people) | | | | Cash or traveler's checks, change |
| Search and Rescue Team (2 people) | | | | Paper towels |
| Medical Triage Team (2 people) | | | | Fire Extinguisher |
| Medical Treatment Team (2 people) | | | | Tent |
| The city directly liaises with the neighborhood | | | | Compass |
| CERT team leader through the CERT's organic | | | | Matches in a waterproof container |
| communication team. In wealthy areas the | | | | Signal flare |
| communications may be by amateur radio, or | | | | Paper, pencil |
| dedicated telephone or fire-alarm networks. In | | | | Medicine dropper |
| poor areas, relays of bicycle-equipped runners can | | | | Feminine supplies |
| effectively carry mail between the teams and the | | | | Personal hygiene items |
| city's emergency operations center. | | | | Disinfectant |
| CERT Team Member Roles | | | | Household chlorine bleach |
| CERT Team Leader. If there is only one CERT | | | | You should learn where to turn off your home's |
| team on-scene, is also the Incident Commander | | | | gas, electric and water service. If this requires |
| until the arrival of competent authority. Makes | | | | tools, attach them to the service box, or place |
| initial assessment of the scene and determines | | | | them in your kit. |
| appropriate course of action for team members; | | | | ready.gov recommends medical supplies for a |
| checks team members prior to deployment to | | | | family, as well as suggestions for storing food. |
| ensure they are safe and equipped for the | | | | Step 3: Neighborhood rescue |
| operation; determines safe or unsafe working | | | | After self-rescue, the neighborhood goes to their |
| environment; assigns team member roles if not | | | | team's neighborhood "command post," established |
| already assigned; designates triage area, | | | | at earlier meetings. The object is to centralize and |
| treatment area, morgue, and vehicle traffic | | | | prioritize resources. This one step is the single |
| routes; coordinates and directs team operations; | | | | most powerful act of a CERT. The CERT |
| determines logistical needs (water, food, medical | | | | command post is always marked by a flag, sign |
| supplies, transportation, equipment, etc.) and | | | | or tabard to help people locate it. |
| determines ways to meet those needs through | | | | The neighborhood is usually informed about the |
| team members or citizen volunteers on the | | | | command post at a neighborhood block party or |
| scene; collects and writes reports on the | | | | picnic. |
| operation and victims; ensures team | | | | If the teams lack trained staff (likely, as most |
| accountability; communicates and coordinates with | | | | people are likely to be unorganized volunteers), |
| the Incident Commander. | | | | the leader rips out sections of the notebook |
| Fire Suppression Team (2). Work under the | | | | acquired during his training, and the teams |
| supervision of the Team Leader to suppress small | | | | self-train on-the-spot. The notebooks include |
| fires in designated work areas or as needed; | | | | check-lists and procedures. Literacy is both |
| when not accomplishing their primary mission, | | | | assumed and essential. |
| assist the search and rescue team or triage | | | | The leader (selected at an earlier meeting) assigns |
| team; assist in evacuation and transport as | | | | street teams to systematically assess every |
| needed; assist in the triage or treatment area as | | | | building in the neighborhood and report back. |
| needed, other duties as assigned; communicate | | | | Meanwhile, the neighborhood leader assigns people |
| with Team Leader. | | | | to specialist teams. Generally, a trained and |
| Search and Rescue Team (2). Work under the | | | | untrained person, or a fit and unfit person are |
| supervision of the Team Leader, searching for | | | | paired. |
| and providing rescue of victims as is prudent | | | | When the leader takes charge and a |
| under the conditions; when not accomplishing their | | | | communications person is present, the team |
| primary mission, assist the Fire Suppression | | | | reports that it started-up to the city's emergency |
| Team, assist in the triage or treatment area as | | | | operations center. |
| needed; other duties as assigned; communicate | | | | In a good team, various families have agreed to |
| with Team Leader. | | | | lend supplies, tools and equipment to the team in |
| Medical Triage Team (2). Work under the | | | | an emergency. They bring these to the logistic |
| supervision of the Team Leader, providing | | | | team, who issues them. Logistics people also |
| START triage for victims found at the scene; | | | | canvass new people for needed tools, food, |
| marking victims with category of injury per the | | | | water, tents, paper, field commodes and other |
| standard operating procedures; when not | | | | needs listed by the planners. |
| accomplishing their primary mission, assist the Fire | | | | When the street and block assessments come |
| Suppression Team if needed, assist the Search | | | | back, the planners try to track current problems |
| and Rescue Team if needed, assist in the Medical | | | | and anticipate future needs so the leader can |
| Triage Area if needed, assist in the Treatment | | | | assign teams well. Usually the critical planning aid is |
| Area if needed, other duties as assigned; | | | | a couple of greaseboards (which work in rain). |
| communicate with Team Leader. | | | | The assessments include details like addresses of: |
| Medical Treatment Team (2). Work under the | | | | destroyed buildings, unrescued persons, and |
| supervision of the Team Leader, providing medical | | | | hazards, as well as people who need immediate |
| treatment to victims within the scope of their | | | | professional care or professional rescues. |
| training. This task is normally accomplished in the | | | | Step 4. Coordination with Regional Authorities |
| Treatment Area, however, it may take place in | | | | The CERT team's communicators send a digested |
| the affected area as well. When not accomplishing | | | | summary of damage and critical injuries to the |
| their primary mission, assist the Fire Suppression | | | | city's (or regional) emergency operations center. |
| Team as needed, assist the Medical Triage Team | | | | The 5% of rescues that require professional |
| as needed; other duties as assigned; communicate | | | | training and equipment are also reported in the |
| with the Team Leader. | | | | summary. The reports include exact addresses, |
| In the short term, CERTs perform data gathering, | | | | and damage assessments. |
| especially to locate mass-casualties requiring | | | | Soon, the CERT begins light rescues, and brings |
| professional response, or situations requiring | | | | injured people to the first-aid station. Planners |
| professional rescues, simple fire-fighting tasks (e.g. | | | | track the injuries, especially triaged injuries |
| small fires, turning off gas), light search and | | | | requiring immediate professional care. The |
| rescue, damage evaluation of structures, triage | | | | communicators inform the city when local rescues |
| and first aid. In the longer term, CERTs may | | | | are complete, and give an updated summary of |
| assist in evacuation residents, or assist with | | | | severe injuries and damaged buildings. |
| setting up a neighborhood shelter. | | | | At some point, a fire or police team may appear |
| Step 1: Self Rescue | | | | at the command post. The planners and leader |
| Each individual reaches into their grab-and-go bag, | | | | can brief them from the summaries. This saves |
| gets a flashlight, and puts on their shoes. It's very | | | | professional responders huge amounts of time, |
| tempting to check the family first, but glass on | | | | and directs them to important problems. |
| the floor can instantly create a casualty if one is | | | | Eventually, the city's emergency operations center |
| bare-foot. | | | | tells the CERT where the injured people who |
| To prevent their injury, children should be trained | | | | need immediate care can be taken. Note that the |
| to wait for a parent unless they see fire or feel | | | | regional center can coordinate to balance loading |
| heat. The family should establish an outside | | | | of local hospitals. The logistics people recruit |
| meeting place, and evacuation methods from | | | | vehicles, the leader assigns drivers and first-aid |
| every room. | | | | people, and the severe injuries are evacuated. |
| California's experience with earthquakes suggests | | | | Later, less immediate injuries will be evacuated. |
| that every family member should have a "grab | | | | Step 5. Local sheltering |
| and go" bag, attached to their bed. It has to be | | | | Throughout, the CERT's shelter workers register |
| attached to the bed, because in earthquakes (and | | | | people and children so family members can find |
| perhaps other emergencies), bags in closets or | | | | them, and feed and house people and (if possible) |
| under beds were lost when furniture moved and | | | | pets (in tents, eventually). As time passes, the |
| structures failed. | | | | communicator passes lists of registrees as |
| The bag has to include shoes and a flashlight. The | | | | designated by the emergency operations center. |
| most common injury in surprise emergencies is a | | | | In most situations, Red Cross or Red Crescent |
| foot injury, when people try to run on broken | | | | helps family members locate each other. |
| glass. The most common problem is a power or | | | | The CERT team should prepare the shelter area |
| lighting failure, and a flashlight is an immense help | | | | in advance, getting permission to locate an |
| to self-rescue at night. | | | | emergency tent city on a school grounds, park, |
| Many people pack an entire personal emergency | | | | parking lot or other open space. If most families |
| kit in the grab and go bag, but a shopping bag | | | | have tents, a small managed tent community has |
| with shoes and a flashlight is enough to start. | | | | better access to regional services and security |
| Make sure you have kennels, or other means, to | | | | than individual campers. |
| evacuate your pets from your home. During an | | | | After some time, the regional EOC may choose |
| emergency animals are likely to panic. It is | | | | to relocate people to a larger, more |
| important to place them in a controlled | | | | professionally-managed shelter. Even in this |
| environment before they leave the house. Make | | | | situation, local CERT shelters can still provide |
| sure family members know who is responsible for | | | | services to people with property, livestock or |
| bringing the pets to the meeting place. | | | | pets, because these are not usually permitted in |
| Step 2: Family Rescue | | | | large shelters. Neighborhood churches are in a |
| Turn off gas only if you suspect a leak (the dials | | | | unique position in the community to be utilized as |
| on the meter may be turning rapidly or you may | | | | designated relief sites, as they provide an |
| smell the telltale odor of gas). Only your utility | | | | established service structure and personal |
| company can turn the gas back on once it has | | | | knowledge base of its members and the |
| been turned off. If you suspect a gas leak, turn | | | | community they serve. |
| off the electricity also to prevent a fire or | | | | The result is not professional, but it's much better |
| explosion. Then rescue other family members. Do | | | | than an un-organized mob. |