C.E.R.T.Community Emergency Response Team

What is it, who are they?

Community Emergency Community Emergency Response TeamResponse Team

C.E.R.T.C.E.R.T.CERT is about readiness, people helping

people, rescuer safety and doing the most good

for the greatest number of people

CERT Objectives

• To prepare yourself, family and home to survive

• To protect yourself first so that you will be able to help others

• To assist family and neighbors during times of disaster

• To work as part of an emergency response team

CERT History• CERT implemented by LAFD in 1987• By 1994 FEMA had adopted and expanded

this program into a national program• In 2002, the national program became part of

Citizen Corps, which linked CERT with a number of other volunteer related activities

• In 2004, all 50 states, 3 territories and 6 foreign countries had adopted CERT as their training standard

Potential Emergencies

• Earthquake• Conflagration• Hazardous Material Spill• Storm/Flooding• Energy Emergency• Terrorism• Transportation Accident• Civil Disturbance

Earthquake Threat

• 62% chance of a 6.7+ EQ by 2032

• 29K uninhabitable housing units in SMC

• Multiple large fires• Widespread destruction• High death toll• Businesses failing• Jobs lost• Billions $$ in damage

Source: Summary Background Report ABAG Studies

Expected Levels of Shaking from Future Earthquakes

1989 Loma Prieta

1906 quake

Loma Prieta was NOT the big one!

30 Loma Prieta Earthquakes = One 1906 Earthquake

The Need To Be Ready

In 95% of all emergencies……

Bystanders or victims themselves are the first to respond

and to provide emergencyassistance and/or perform a rescue

Disaster Assumptions• The number of injured will exceed the local

ability to treat

• City resources will be overwhelmed

• Cities infrastructures will be compromised• Transportation

• Buildings

• Communication

• Utilities

• Water Service

• Fuel Supplies

Impact to Emergency Services

• Police will address incidences of serious public safety

• Firefighters will suppress major fires and other major emergencies

• Paramedics will handle life-threatening injuries

Citizens Response

• Survivors will help

• They will do what they know how to do

• Generally, most people are not familiar with:• Search and Rescue• Disaster Medicine• Post Disaster Survival• Disaster Communications

CERT, a City’s Resource

• Members can provide assistance within the scope of their training

• Members will report information to the EOC/Fire Department

• CERT members are covered

by the State of California

Disaster Service Worker

Volunteer Program

The Northridge Earthquake• CERT members assisted with the following:

• Searched 203 structures

• Rescued 17 victims

• Gave medical treatment to 57 people

• Transported 4 patients

• Extinguished 5 fires

• Performed utility control at 156 locations

CERT Curriculum

Class Session # 1…            Earthquake Awareness, Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation

Class Session # 2… Basic Disaster Skills

Class Session # 3…Disaster Medicine Part 1Disaster Psychology

Class Session # 4… Disaster Medicine Part 2 Class Session # 5...Light Search and RescueWMD/Terrorism & CERT

CERT Curriculum Continued..

Class Session # 6…FRS Radios and Communication

Class Session # 7...Team Organization and Management, ICS 100

Class Session # 8... Skills Development and Application Mock Earthquake Drill

Continuing Education Classes

• Incident Command Post Exercises• CERT ICS & Documentation• Communications (Ham and FRS)• Fire Extinguisher Training• Search and Rescue• Disaster Medical & AED • Damage Assessment• Disaster Psychology• SM County Bomb Squad• Shelter Management• “Shift Happens”• Pet Emergency Preparedness• Train the Trainer• County Coroner

Non-Disaster Activities

• Art and Wine Festival• San Mateo County Disaster Fair• Foster City Open House• Silver Dragon Exercise• Halloween Safe Streets• Pet Preparedness Classes• Emergency Preparedness Fairs• San Mateo County Flu Clinic• Green Team Block Leaders

How CERT’s are activated during a disaster:

• An official announcement over the Foster City emergency ham frequency of 147.570 MHz.

• Foster City TV on channel 27.• Foster City radio 1680 on the AM dial.• A text message from www.smcalert.info. • An announcement from the Neighborhood

Team Leader on the FRS channel assigned to each neighborhood.

• An official announcement on local commercial television

After a Disaster Strikes…

• CERT Volunteers are activated to respond to their Field Incident Command Post

• CERT members will first take care of themselves, their families, then their homes

• Survey Neighborhood for Damage• Select an Incident Command Team • Divide into Field Teams of no less than

three CERT members

Then they will…

• Gather damage assessment information• Turn off utilities (gas, water & electricity)• Assist with evacuations• Extinguish small fires• Conduct light search and rescue• Perform triage and disaster medical• Provide disaster information to the EOC• Assist with communications

Who to contact..

• Foster City CERT 650-286-3357

• San Mateo CERT 650-522-7900

• Central County CERT 650-558-7600

Questions?

CERT…

Doing the greatest good for the greatest numbers…