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