Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team

LamorindaCommunity Emergency Response Team Unit 6: CERT Organization Released: 15 January 2019 Lamorinda CERT

Community Emergency Response Team Personal safety is ALWAYS the number one priority Work as a team Wear personal protective equipment…gloves, helmet, goggles, N95 mask and boots The CERT goal is to do the Greatest Good for the Greatest Number Hope for the best but plan for the worst Visual 6.1 Lamorinda CERT

Why Emergency Response Management? A disaster happens in your community You’re OK, and want to help You have some emergency gear and some know-how Not much is happening You don’t know what’s going on You can’t even figure out who to ask Visual 6.2 Lamorinda CERT

Need for CERT Organization Individual CERT members may need to operate as part of organized CERT units Emergency response events typically require multi-agency coordinated efforts CERT members and units are likely to operate as part of a larger emergency response effort CERT familiarity with common emergency response organizational structures is necessary and expected Visual 6.3 Lamorinda CERT

Principles of CERT On-Scene Management Maintain the safety and health of CERT disaster workers Provide clear leadership and organizational structure Improve effectiveness of response and recovery efforts Visual 6.4 Lamorinda CERT

Incident Commander Basic Incident Command System Structure Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer Planning Finance / Administration Logistics Operations Visual 6.5 Lamorinda CERT

Incident Command System Provides flexibility of resource management Positions filled as needed Modular units Key concepts Unity of Command – each (CERT) member reports to only one person Manageable span of control Common terminology and organizational structure Five major management activities in ICS Command Operations Planning Logistics Finance / Administration Visual 6.6 Lamorinda CERT

Span of Control Between 3 and 7 team members Optimally does not exceed 5 team members Visual 6.7 Lamorinda CERT

ICS Attributes Incident Command System provides: Well-defined management structure Manageable span of control Common terminology Effective communication Consolidated action plans Comprehensive resource management Accountability Visual 6.8 Lamorinda CERT

Incident Commander Basic Incident Command System Structure Public Information Officer Liaison Officer Safety Officer Planning Finance / Administration Logistics Operations Visual 6.9 Lamorinda CERT

ICS Structure General Staff Command Staff Visual 6.10 Lamorinda CERT

Incident Commander Normally assumed by the first person on scene Position may be transferred when a more qualified person arrives The IC is responsible for overall management of the incident Ensuring safety Establishing a Command Post Determining incident objectives and strategies IC will appoint Safety Officer, Operations Chief, and other Command and General staff positions as the incident expands Visual 6.11 Lamorinda CERT

Safety Officer Monitors operations, assesses hazardous and unsafe conditions, and advises the Incident Commander on appropriate mitigations Develops the Site Safety Plan Reviews the Incident Action Plan for safety implications Can halt any operation at any time for safety concerns Visual 6.12 Lamorinda CERT

Public Information Officer Responsible for interfacing with the public and media Coordinates communications with other agencies with incident-related information Develops information on the event of general interest for internal and external use Monitors public and media reports Incident Commander must approve release of incident-related information Visual 6.13 Lamorinda CERT

ICS – Operations Section Develops the operational tactics Develops the Section organizational structure Branches, Divisions/Groups, Teams Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan Directs all deployed resources Visual 6.14 Lamorinda CERT

ICS – Planning Section Collects and evaluates information Validates information into intelligence Develops the Incident Action Plan to accomplish the objectives defined for the event Maintains resource status on all personnel and equipment during the event Maintains incident documentation Visual 6.15 Lamorinda CERT

ICS – Logistics Section Provides resources needed to support the incident Human and material resources Services for responders Food Communications Medical Support Supplies Facilities Transportation Visual 6.16 Lamorinda CERT

ICS – Finance / Administration Section Responsible for costs related to incident Provides accounting, procurement, time recording and cost analysis Not all incidents will require a Finance Section If you want your bills paid or to get reimbursed, keep your receipts and records!! Visual 6.17 Lamorinda CERT

CERTs in Large ICS Structure General Staff Command Staff CERT? CERT? CERT? Visual 6.18 Lamorinda CERT

CERT and ICS CERT Team Leader (Incident Commander) Public Information Officer Safety Officer Planning Finance / Administration Logistics Operations CERT ICS Structure Visual 6.19 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Command and Control CERT Team Leader: “What to do” The Incident Commander (IC) Operations: “How to do it” Manages the teams in the field Planning / Intelligence: “What’s going on” Collects and displays information, makes incident plans Logistics: “How to support it” Manages resources, supplies and equipment Administration: “What gets recorded” Collects, compiles and stores documentation Visual 6.20 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Team Leader Incident Commander, unless part of larger ICS structure Has overall responsibility for all CERT actions Establishes the CERT Command Post Sets objectives and priorities Assigns personnel as needed Ensures coordination of staff actions and activities Communicates with higher authorities (police, fire, EMS, EOC, etc.) Visual 6.21 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Safety Officer Safety Officer's role is to develop and recommend measures to the Incident Commander for assuring personnel health and safety and to assess and/or anticipate hazardous and unsafe situations. Develops the Site Safety Plan, reviews the Incident Action Plan for safety implications, and provides timely, complete, specific, and accurate assessment of hazards and required controls. Can halt any operation at any time for safety concerns Visual 6.22 Lamorinda CERT

CERT PIO: Dealing with the Media Refer media inquiries to CERT Team Leader / IC / PIO Do not let media interfere with CERT goals Do not divulge any sensitive information Visual 6.23 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Operations Section Visual 6.24 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Planning Section Collects and evaluates information Reports from neighborhood assessments, for example Validates information into intelligence Develops the Incident Action Plan to accomplish the objectives defined for the event Maintains resource status on all personnel and equipment during the event Maintains incident documentation Visual 6.25 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Logistics Section Provides resources needed to support CERT response Human and material resources Services for responders Food Unit Communications Unit Medical Unit (rehabilitation) Support Supplies Unit Facilities Unit Traffic control/ Staging Unit Visual 6.26 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Finance / Administration Section Responsible for costs related to incident Provides accounting, procurement, time recording and cost analysis Volunteer time is used for Lamorinda emergency preparedness federal matching dollars. The value in California was $29.09 per hour in 2017 In Lamorinda, we track volunteer hours for CERT, LARIG and MOFD CS 241 activities Visual 6.27 Lamorinda CERT

Understand the Situation ICS Planning Process Establish Incident Objectives and Strategy Events Develop the Plan Prepare and Disseminate the Plan Execute, Evaluate, and Revise the Plan Incidents Visual 6.28 Lamorinda CERT

Typical Questions for Response Activities Identify the scope of the incident/event What is the problem? Determine an overall strategy What can be done? Identify and deploy resources Who is going to do what? Document actions and results What resulted and what is next? Visual 6.29 Lamorinda CERT

Preparing for the Planning Meeting Tactics Meeting Planning Meeting Preparing for the Tactics Meeting IAP Prep & Approval Command & General Staff Meeting Operations Briefing IC/UC Develop/Update Objectives Meeting Execute Plan & Assess Progress New Ops Period Begins Initial IC/UC Meeting Incident Brief Using ICS-201 Initial Response & Assessment Initial Response Notifications Incident/Event Planning for Incidents The planning “P” is a tool for setting objectives, strategies and tactics It is used to develop the Incident (Event) Action Plan The planning cycle is iterative, and repeats for each “operational period” Visual 6.30 Lamorinda CERT

Planning for Incidents The incident planners must take into account the following factors: Time criticality Unstable, changing situation Potential rapid expansion of incident and response Incomplete communications and information Lack of experience managing expanding incidents Visual 6.31 Lamorinda CERT

Planning for Events The planners for an event should consider: Type of event Location, size, expected duration Number of agencies involved Kind, type, and number of resources required Required facilities and staging areas Kind and type of logistical support needs Financial considerations Known limitations or restrictions Available communications Visual 6.32 Lamorinda CERT

SMART Objectives S – specific, significant M – measurable, meaningful A – agreed-upon, attainable, action-oriented R – realistic, results-oriented T – time-based, trackable Visual 6.33 Lamorinda CERT

Who Does What? Command: Develops incident objectives. Ensures Safety Analysis is completed. Approves IAP. Finance/Admin: Conducts any needed cost analyses. Incident Commander Finance/Admin Section Operations Section Planning Section Logistics Section Logistics: Identifies the logistics requirements to support the tactics. Operations: Establishes strategies and tactics to meet incident objectives. Planning: Provides status reports, manages the planning process, and produces the IAP. Visual 6.34 Lamorinda CERT

An Event’s Incident Action Plan Visual 6.35 Lamorinda CERT

Incident Action Plan Contents • ICS Cover (IAP purpose and scope) • ICS form 202: Incident objectives • ICS form 207: Incident organization chart • ICS form 203: Organizational assignment list • ICS form 204: Assignment list (operations) • ICS form 205: Incident communications plan • ICS form 206: Incident medical plan • ICS form 208: Safety messages • Maps, weather forecasts Visual 6.36 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Disaster Response CERTs: Take care of themselves, their family and their home Survey their neighborhoods for injured victims and property damage using a Rapid Needs Assessment form Report the neighborhood status to CERT Command or the city EOC Wait for a mobilization order Do the greatest good for the greatest number without placing CERT members in harms way Visual 6.37 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Disaster Response Organizing is key! Don’t get caught up in the “ICS Rules” Know the concepts and make them work for you Use only those ICS positions that make sense in the given incident Know your resources Maintain situational awareness You will “play how you’ve practiced” Practice by using ICS for routine events (neighborhood parties, weddings, etc.) Visual 6.38 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Mobilization CERT Mobilization (When, Where & How) Refer to the Lamorinda CERT Call-out Policy in your binder, and on the website When you self-deploy in your neighborhood, you are doing so at your own risk as a Good Samaritan. In conjunction with the cities and Moraga-Orinda Fire District, Lamorinda CERT will develop and communicate an organization plan for each specific incident Communications must be organized, efficient and effective ICS was developed to assist in the management of incidents of all sizes – USE IT! Visual 6.39 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Documentation CERT Documentation is very important Under CERT, each level of authority is responsible for documentation CERT Leader (Incident Commander) Command Staff Officers (Safety, PIO, etc.) General Staff Section Chief (Ops, Plans, Logs, Admin) Branch Director (Area or Function branches) Team Leader (Search Team 1, Medical Team 4, etc.) Individual CERT member You will always be in a team of at least two. Make one a scribe to record everything you find. Visual 6.40 Lamorinda CERT

Rapid Needs Assessment Form Lamorinda has a Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) Form in use by Police, Fire and CERT The RNA form is designed to record what is found in each neighborhood It is recommended that the form be pre-filled with street addresses in your area to aid in the complete and swift assessment of the entire neighborhood. Visual 6.41 Lamorinda CERT

Pre-filled RNA Form Visual 6.42 Lamorinda CERT

CERT Forms Standard ICS forms are used The “Universal Form” is a blank sheet of paper Forms are available for download at the Lamorinda CERT website: http://lamorindacert.org/resources/cert-forms/ CERT forms that should be in every CERT’s backpack include: Rapid Needs Assessment Head-to-Toe Assessment General Message Victim Treatment Area Visual 6.43 Lamorinda CERT

In the End, Calm Heads Prevail! Visual 6.44 Lamorinda CERT

Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team