0. Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team
01/01/2017
Lamorinda Community Emergency Response Team
Unit 6: CERT Organization
Released: 27 March 2017
Lamorinda CERT

1. 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

2. Purpose of On-Scene Management
Maintain physical safety of disaster workers
Maintain mental well being of disaster workers
Provide clear leadership and organizational structure
Improve effectiveness of rescue efforts
Visual 6.2
Lamorinda CERT

3. Need for CERT Organization
Incident Command System provides:
Well-defined management structure
Manageable span of control
Common terminology
Effective communication
Consolidated action plans
Comprehensive resource management
Accountability
Visual 6.3
Lamorinda CERT

4. Objectives of CERT Organization
Identify the scope of the incident
What is the problem?
Determine an overall strategy
What can CERT do and will they do it?
Deploy resources
Who is going to do what?
Document actions and results
If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen
Visual 6.4
Lamorinda CERT

5. CERT and the Incident Command System
Provides flexibility of resource management
Key Concepts:
Unity of Command – each CERT reports to only one person
Management Span of Control
Common Terminology
There are 5 major management activities in ICS:
Command
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.5
Lamorinda CERT

6. Incident Command System
Principles of ICS are:
Standardization
Command is established with transfer process
Chain of command is established with unity of command
Unified command is available
Management by Objectives – SMART Objectives
Modular Organization with Span of Control
Facilities and Resources are standardized
Communications / Information Management
Accountability
Visual 6.6
Lamorinda CERT

7. Incident Command System
SMART Objectives
S – specific, significant
M – measurable, meaningful
A – agreed upon, attainable, action oriented
R – realistic, results-oriented
T – time-based, trackable
Visual 6.7
Lamorinda CERT

8. ICS Management SPAN OF CONTROL Between 3 and 7 team members
Optimally does not exceed 5 team members
Visual 6.8
Lamorinda CERT

9. ICS Equivalent in Business
President
Public Relations
Legal
CFO
Manufacturing
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Basic Business Structure
Visual 6.9
Lamorinda CERT

10. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Relations
Legal
CFO
Manufacturing
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.10
Lamorinda CERT

11. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Legal
CFO
Manufacturing
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.11
Lamorinda CERT

12. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Legal
Safety Officer
Manufacturing
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.12
Lamorinda CERT

13. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Manufacturing
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.13
Lamorinda CERT

14. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Operations
Research & Development
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.14
Lamorinda CERT

15. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Operations
Planning
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.15
Lamorinda CERT

16. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Operations
Planning
Sales
Human Resources
Inventory
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.16
Lamorinda CERT

17. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Finance / Administration
Visual 6.17
Lamorinda CERT

18. Business to Disaster Conversion
Incident Commander
Public Information Officer
Liaison Officer
Safety Officer
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Finance / Administration
Basic ICS Structure
Visual 6.18
Lamorinda CERT

19. ICS Structure
General Staff
Command Staff
Visual 6.19
Lamorinda CERT

20. CERTs in Large ICS Structure
General Staff
Command Staff
CERT?
CERT?
CERT?
Visual 6.20
Lamorinda CERT

21. Let’s Plan an Event Using ICS
Visual 6.21
Lamorinda CERT

22. Typical Planning Shortcomings
Breakdown in the decision making process
Failure to delegate
Lack of internal coordination
Poor use of available resources
Visual 6.22
Lamorinda CERT

23. ICS Strengths One person is in charge Objectives are SMART
Plan focuses on achieving each objective
Report to only one person
Available resources are shared for best use
Visual 6.23
Lamorinda CERT

24. Let’s Plan an Event Using ICS
Wedding with 100’s of Guests
Who is the Incident Commander?
Who is the Command Staff and what are their duties?
What positions are needed in General Staff?
Operations
Plans
Logistics
Finance
Visual 6.24
Lamorinda CERT

25. Let’s Plan an Event Using ICS
Visual 6.25
Lamorinda CERT

26. Let’s Plan an Event Using ICS
Visual 6.26
Lamorinda CERT

27. Let’s Plan an Event Using ICS
Visual 6.27
Lamorinda CERT

28. An Event’s Incident Action Plan
Visual 6.28
Lamorinda CERT

29. An Event’s Incident Action Plan
Visual 6.29
Lamorinda CERT

30. An Event’s Incident Action Plan
Visual 6.30
Lamorinda CERT

31. An Event’s Incident Action Plan
Visual 6.31
Lamorinda CERT

32. CERT and ICS CERT CERT ICS Structure Team Leader (Incident Commander)
Safety Officer
Public Information Officer
Operations
Planning
Logistics
Finance / Administration
CERT ICS Structure
Visual 6.32
Lamorinda CERT

33. CERT Structure CERT Leader:
Normally assumed by the first person on scene
Position may be transferred when a more qualified person arrives
Command Post location is established by the CERT Leader for command and control of the incident. Locate near but out of the disaster scene.
CERT Leader may appoint Operations, Planning, Logistics, Safety Officer, etc. as incident expands
A CERT incident may be of any size
CERT may be integrated into a larger ICS structure
Visual 6.33
Lamorinda CERT

34. 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 6.34
Lamorinda CERT

35. CERT Team Leader
Incident Commander unless part of larger ICS structure
Has overall responsibility for all CERT actions
Establishes the 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 6.35
Lamorinda CERT

36. 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 6.36
Lamorinda CERT

37. 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 6.37
Lamorinda CERT

38. CERT Operations Section
Group Leader
Medical
Transportation
Team
Teams
Treatment
Morgue Team
Supply Teams
Search & Rescue
S&R Team A
S&R Team B
S&R Team C X
Team A
Team B
Team C
Visual 6.38
Lamorinda CERT

39. ICS - Operations OPERATIONS Section Develops the operational tactics
Develops the section organizational structure
Conducts tactical operations to carry out the plan
Directs all deployed resources
Visual 6.39
Lamorinda CERT

40. ICS – Planning / Intelligence
PLANS Section
Collects and evaluates information
Validates information into intelligence
Develops the 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 6.40
Lamorinda CERT

41. ICS - Logistics LOGS Section
Provides resources and all other services needed to support the incident
Personnel
Food
Communications
Facilities
Transportation, etc.
Visual 6.41
Lamorinda CERT

42. ICS – Finance / Administration
ADMIN Section
Responsible for costs related to incident
Provides accounting, procurement, time recording and cost analysis
Volunteer time is used for Federal matching dollars and tracking is very important. The value in California is $27.59 per hour in 2016.
Visual 6.42
Lamorinda CERT

43. CERT Response
CERTs:
Take care of themselves, their family and their home
With a scribe, survey the neighborhood 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 6.43
Lamorinda CERT

44. CERT Response Organizing is key!
Don’t get caught up in the “ICS Rules”
Know the concepts and make it work for you
Use only those positions that make sense in the given incident
You will “play how you’ve practiced”
Practice by using ICS for routine events (neighborhood parties, weddings, etc.)
Know your resources
Maintain situational awareness
Visual 6.44
Lamorinda CERT

45. CERT Mobilization CERT Mobilization (When, Where & How)
Refer to the Lamorinda CERT Call-out Policy in your Green Folder 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 6.45
Lamorinda CERT

46. 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 6.46
Lamorinda CERT

47. 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 6.47
Lamorinda CERT

48. Pre-filled RNA Form
Visual 6.48
Lamorinda CERT

49. 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:
Forms that should be in every CERT’s backpack include:
Rapid Needs Assessment
Head-to-Toe Assessment
General Message
Victim Treatment Area
Visual 6.49
Lamorinda CERT

50. In the End, Calm Heads Prevail!
Visual 6.50
Lamorinda CERT