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Why is
CERT
Needed?
Disasters can severely restrict and
overwhelm emergency responders,
communications, transportation
and utilities leaving neighborhoods
and individuals cut off from outside
emergency support
Citizens want training to help them
be proactive with their own safety
CERT Is:
“A Serious Effort to Involve
Community Members in Disaster
Preparedness and Response”
A network of proactive citizens who are trained by emergency service professionals
to respond to local disaster situations
Community Emergency Response Teams
CERT
The New
Civil
Defense
Why CERT?
• To tap into the American spirit of volunteerism
• To create partnership between community
members, emergency management, and
response agencies
• To empower people to become part of the
mitigation, preparedness, and response
solution
• To train volunteer resources to improve
community preparedness and response
capability
CERT Background
Developed by LA City Fire Department in 1987
Department accepted limitations to provide
immediate help after a major event
Community volunteers seen as part of the
solution
Adopted by FEMA in 1993 as an all hazards
community-based training program
Became part of the President Bush’s Citizen Corps in
2002
Citizen Corps Programs
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program
educates and trains citizens in basic disaster response skills
Fire Corps promotes the use of citizen advocates to provide
support to fire and rescue departments
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program helps medical,
public health, and other volunteers offer their expertise
Neighborhood Watch/USAonWatch incorporates terrorism
awareness education into its existing crime prevention mission
Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) works to enhance the
capacity of state and local law enforcement to utilize volunteers
CERT Community Process
Educate community members about hazards, vulnerabilities and professional response capabilities and limitations
Train participants in basic response skills
Promote CERT organization and growth
Keep teams involved through exercises, supplemental training and special projects
Community Emergency
Response Teams
Roles for CERT Members:
Prepare for a disaster
Respond to a
neighborhood disaster
Assist, when asked,
with non-emergency
situations
Emergency Response Greensburg Kansas, May 4, 2007
EF5 Tornado
Community Emergency Response Teams
Turning off utilities wherever possible
Suppressing small fires
Treating life-threatening injuries
Conducting light search and rescue
Helping victims cope with their emotions
Respond By:
Sizing up the situation … then, if necessary …
CERTs DO NOT :
• Suppress large fires!
• Enter heavily damaged or dangerous
structures!
• Perform hazardous materials clean-up!
• Perform beyond their level of training!
• Activate or deploy unless called for!
Day-to-Day Activities
Hand-out literature
Provide and install smoke detectors
Provide staffing for special events
EM volunteers
Use your imagination
Preparedness Presentations
CERT Sessions
Disaster Preparedness
Fire Suppression
Medical - 3 Killers, Triage, Head to Toe
Medical - Treatment, Medical Areas, Sanitation
Light Search and Rescue
Team Organization and Disaster Psychology
Terrorism Module
Final exercise
Continuing Education and Supplemental Training
CERT Sessions
Basic course is 21 hours
Activity and exercise driven
Fun and hands-on
Win-win process
Continued involvement through supplemental
training, exercises and projects
