Office of Emergency Management

1. Town of Bethel Office of Emergency Management

2. Agenda • Welcome • Tom Galliford, Director of Emergency Management • What is CERT? • The Need for CERT • Bethel CERT Mission & Role • CERT Training Course • Question & Answers

3. What is CERT? Federal State Local Office of Emergency Management Sponsors

4. The National Framework • National Response Plan presents the guiding principles enabling all levels of domestic response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies. • ESF annexes (Emergency Support Functions) • ESF 5- emergency management • ESF 8- public health and medical services • ESF 2- Communications

5. The National Response Plan • Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept developed by the military. • CERT is part of Bethel Emergency Management • Activated by EMD, report to EMD, responsible to EMD. • May assist other agencies/ESF’s only after authorized and deployed by EMD.

6. The Need For CERT • Any large scale emergency requires extensive manpower, personnel. • Having a pool of trained volunteers to assist our first responders is vitally important. • Individual’s skills, hobbies may become critical in an emergency. (food service business=shelter food management)

7. The Need For CERT • Assist at the EOC: Shelter managers Documentation/Scribe Radio operator (ARES) Maintain Mass Notification System

8. The Need For CERT • Assist at the Emergency Scene: Provide traffic control Triage patients Provide First Aid Provide Rehabilitation for First Responders Assist in running Shelters State Animal Rescue Teams Amateur Radio

9. CERT beginnings • Concept developed by Los Angeles City Fire Dept in 1985. • The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders. • Sponsored By DEMHS • Congress has provided funds through the Citizen Corps program.

10. CERT and Public Health Emergencies • A “Community Emergency Response Volunteer” group has been established by the Bethel, Redding, & Ridgefield Health Departments. • This CERV is primarily made up of Health Care Professionals. • Citizen volunteers are used as non-medical support in major health emergencies. • CERT members could supplement and compliment CERV group activities in public health emergencies (pan flu, small pox, etc)

11. CERT and SART • State Animal Response Team- Bob Yost • Established to assist in pet rescuing and sheltering during emergencies. • Could be utilized for fires, floods, evacuations, etc. • Pets are a vital component to one’s well being- a system is needed to care for and house pets. • Need to be trained in CERT to become part of SART!

12. TRAINING • CERT training program: 1. Disaster Preparedness 2. Fire Safety 3. Disaster Medical Operations (2 sessions) 4. Light Search and Rescue 5. Disaster Psychology 6. Terrorism 7. Disaster Simulation

13. TRAINING • Additional classes to be offered for advanced training after completion of initial program: • Fire Police • Red Cross Shelter Management • CPR • FF Rehab

14. VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE! • Fill out application • We will contact you with dates for classes • If you cannot attend a class or two, there is potential for make up classes in other towns. QUESTIONS???