CERT Team Communications An early draft Ray J. Vaughan, MS Last update 6/3/2016

CERT Team Communication While we might think first about communication during an activation, it’s the communications we have between disasters that can be just as important.

US Mail Slow Expensive Only way to reach: – Older generation – Low tech homes

Phone Trees A calls five people who call five people… Time consuming Need volunteers, what if one is out of town? Personal touch is nice Confirmed receipt assured Leave messages on answering machines Have to wait for real time

Call Out Systems Computerized calling system – Dialogic Brand Give it a message, it calls everyone in the database One-way messages only – Kids? Answering Machine? Did they get it? May need multiple phone lines

ing Lists Good for announcements – 1-3 day notices Great for developing debate about team issues Not real time – We read when convenient Automated announcements (meetings) Data base functions Message archives

Disaster lists Delivered to your text-enabled cell phone or pager E-Alert – NWS Warnings – Civil Emergency CrisisNet et/ et/

Sources for lists YahooGroups Other list management sites? Demo

Web Sites Great way to keep everyone involved Public and/or Private information Also a source for real time local data – Local weather radar – Fire department calls – News – Training schedules

Web Content No such thing as too much information. Be creative Encourage involvement in the communication process as a decision process Great way to get teens involved as Webmasters

Call in System Usually part of government agency phone system – Announcement Only voice mail box If you suspect something is wrong, call in Team leaders have password to update messages Same system may be able to do a call out

Other Notification Systems Emergency Alert System NWS SAME receivers – Just your county – Home/Office/Car

Summary These tools can greatly improve the communication within your CERT team Also can be a useful recruitment tool. Sell your team to potential CERT members If you show the interest in keeping your team informed and active, they’ll feel involved and important to the team