1. Disaster Preparedness
CERT Basic Training Course (Community Emergency Response Team)
Disaster Preparedness
Unit 6- CERT Organization

2. Incident Command System
Developed in Southern California in 1985 after big wildfire problems due to multiple agencies with different priorities & procedures
Standardized structure for agency planning, coordination and control
National standard since 2003 at wildfires, crime scenes, disasters
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization 1

3. CERT and ICS CERT in Action 1994 Northridge Earthquake in LA
neighborhood support
Search
Rescue
Utilities
Medical
Firefight
2016 Tsunami threat Monterey County
teams provided beach warning 2

4. Unit 6: CERT Organization
Unit Objectives
Describe the ICS structure
Identify how CERTs relate with ICS
Explain documentation requirements
Make checklist of steps in CERT mobilization
(Manual pg mobilization added)
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization

5. Unit Topics
CERT Organization
Mobilization
Documentation 4

6. Principles of On-scene Management
Maintain the safety of disaster workers
Greatest good for the greatest number of people
Provide clear leadership and organizational structure
Improve effectiveness of rescue efforts

7. CERT Onscene Management
Well-defined management structure
Manageable span of control (3 – 7)
Common terminology
Effective communication
Consolidated action plans
Comprehensive resource management
Accountability

8. Objectives for OnScene Management
Identify scope of incident
Determine overall strategy
Set priorities
Deploy resources
Document actions and results
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization

9. Basic Incident Command System
The “Doers”
Fire Suppression
Search & Rescue
Medical Operations
The “Getters” & Communications
Planning,
People, Paper
Rarely Needed
By CERTs 8

10. CERT Incident Command
First person at staging area is Incident Commander/Team Leader (can hand off responsibility later)
IC/TL directs team activities and ensures incident safety
Sets up Command Post and stays there
Assigns workers to head Operations, Logistics & Planning
Interfaces with Media and other Responders (Fire, Police, etc.)
Takes direction from Agency official
(Manual pg 6-6) 9

11. Initial CERT Organization
Fire Suppression
Squad A
Fire Suppression
Squad B
Search & Rescue
Squad
Triage Squad
Initially, IC/TL may manage all operations.
Further staff sections activated as needed
6-7

12. CERT Incident Operations
Typically one of the first functions assigned
Directs and coordinates all incident tactical operations:
Fire Suppression
Search & Rescue
Medical Group
Documents team briefings and assignments 11

13. CERT Incident Logistics
Provides Communications
Provides food and medical support to Team members
Coordinates with Operations to determine needs
Manages supplies and facilities
Documents equipment, supplies and facilities 12

14. CERT Incident Planning
Tracks Resources (CERT members and other volunteers who have reported in)
Tracks situation status (incident & staging locations, routes, hazards)
Prepares Team’s action plan & alternative strategies
Provides documentation services to other Sections
Maintains Personnel Resources Tracking Log 13

15. CERT Incident Administration
(RARELY needed at CERT incidents)
(Contract negotiation and monitoring)
(Timekeeping)
(Cost Analysis)
(Develop alternative strategies)
(Compensation for injury or damage to property)
CERT Logistics maintains any expense records 14

16. Dealing with the Media
Refer media inquiries to CERT IC/TL and Fire Department
Do not let media inhibit CERT goals
Have separate area if briefings needed
Be careful about information released
(Manual pg 6-10) 15

17. CERTS RESPONDING TO AN INCIDENT
Whether it is a local neighborhood
Team putting out road blocks and
redirecting traffic until professional
responders arrive Or
You are mobilized to assist with
a larger scale incident, knowing ICS will help you integrate better into disaster response efforts.

18. Unit Topics
CERT Organization
Mobilization
Documentation 17

19. CERT Mobilization
CERTs take care of themselves, their families, their homes, their neighbors
When activated, proceed to staging area; assess damage along the way
IC/TL is established, organizes the group, prioritizes actions
Organization is flexible and evolves based on new information 18

20. CERT Mobilization You should have items for 72 hours
Need neighborhood “buddy” – you cannot effectively work alone
Document your arrival at staging area or, if authorized, by radio
Organize into squads according to needs and skills out of immediate CP
(Manual pg 6-11) 19

21. Operations: Fire Suppression Teams
Team member safety is first priority
In Fire Suppression:
Shut-off utilities as needed
Extinguish small fires
Document activities
Document on Incident/Assignment Tracking Log 20

22. Operations: Search & Rescue Teams
Team member safety is first priority
In Search and Rescue:
Heavy damage = No rescue
Moderate damage = Locate, triage, evacuate
Light damage = Locate, triage, continue
size-up
Document on Incident/Assignment Tracking Log 21

23. Operations: Medical Teams
Team member safety is first priority
In Medical Operations:
Set up treatment area
Triage victims again
Head-to-toe assessment
Treatment
Facilitate transport as needed
Document using Victim Treatment Area Record 22

24. Unit Topics
CERT Organization
Mobilization
Documentation 23

25. Documentation Squad Leaders - document actions taken
Use notebook or regular form
Time of action important
Section Chiefs at Command Post
Provide IC/TL with timely information
Document situation status
Incident locations & access routes
Identified hazards
Support locations
Personnel status 24

26. Task is not done until paperwork is done – even during disaster!
Documentation
Task is not done until paperwork is done – even during disaster!
Must track
People
Priorities
Resources
(Summary list of forms in Manual pgs 6-16 & 17)
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization 25

27. CERT Documentation Forms
Damage Assessment (Individual arriving CERTs)
Personnel Resources Sign-In (Planning)
Incident/Assignment Tracking Log (Operations)
Briefing Assignment (Operations)
Medical Treatment Area Record (Operations)
Equipment Inventory (Logistics)
Communications Log (Logistics)
General Message (Everyone) 26

28. Documentation Flow – Workers Arrive
Incident Commander/Team Leader establishes Command Post and may designate Operations, Logistics and Planning Chiefs depending on scale of incident
Damage Assessment
Arriving CERT volunteers give filled out Damage Assessment Sheets to Incident Commander or Operations Chief
Damage Assessment
Arriving CERT volunteers sign in with Incident Commander or Planning using
Personnel Resources Sign-In sheet 27

29. CERT Form: Damage Assessment
To be filled out as you go to CP or staging
Also used in squad surveys of neighborhood
Used to help prioritize problems
6-28

30. CERT Form: Personnel Resources
Track CERT and SUV personnel at sign-in
Helps in selecting team members by expertise

31. Documentation Flow – Incidents Prioritized
Incident Commander/Team Leader designates Operations, Logistics and Planning Chiefs depending on scale of incident and gives them overall priorities to best use resources
Damage Assessment
IC/TL or Operations Chief prepares an Incident Assignment Tracking Log. Uses Damage Assessment forms to establish priorities. This is an overview document for keeping abreast of situation status and contains essential information for tracking the overall situation.
Damage Assessment
Signed In CERT volunteers report to the Incident Commander or Operations Chief for assignments. 30

32. CERT Form: Assignment Tracking
Documents what each team has done
Should match up with Form 1

33. Documentation Flow – Squad Assignments
Incident Commander/Team Leader monitors incident and staff sections, adjusting priorities as needed, so that resources are best used.
Damage Assessment
The Incident/Assignment Tracking Log will be used to prepare Briefing Assignment Sheets with instructions to Functional Squads.
Functional Squads will use the Briefing
Assignment sheets to log and report damage assessments, etc.
Functional Squads will bring completed Briefing
Assignment sheets back to IC/TL or Operations 32

34. CERT Form: Briefing Assignment
Operations gives team specific task
Team documents its actions

35. Documentation Flow - Equipment
Incident Commander/Team Leader monitors incident and staff sections, adjusting priorities as needed, so that Operations teams are best used.
Damage Assessment
Functional Squads report to Logistics to check out equipment.
Logistics documents equipment checked out on Equipment Inventory Form.
Functional Squads will bring checked out equipment at end of assignment.
Logistics documents returned equipment on Equipment Inventory Form. 34

36. CERT Form: Equipment Inventory
What you have and where it is
Helps identify needs you do not have
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization

37. Documentation Flow – Medical
Incident Commander/Team Leader monitors incident and staff sections, adjusting priorities as needed, so that resources are best used.
Functional Squads assigned to the Medical Treatment Area go to Logistics to check out medical equipment and supplies.
Logistics documents equipment checked out on Equipment Inventory Form.
Victim Treatment Area Record is completed by medical treatment area personnel to record victims entering the treatment area, their condition, and their status.
Medical Teams will return checked out equipment at end of assignment. Logistics documents returned equipment on Equipment Inventory Form. 36

38. CERT Form: Medical Treatment
Kept at CP in Operations
Helps prioritize transportation of patients
6-37

39. Documentation Flow – Communications
Incident Commander/Team Leader monitors incident and staff sections, adjusting priorities as needed, so that resources are best used.
General Messages are used for sending messages between command levels and groups; messages should be clear and concise and focus on key issues such as:
Additional resources requested
Special information
Status updates
Always include the following: TO
FROM
DATE and TIME 38

40. Unit 6: CERT Organization
Documentation Flow – Communications
FORM 6
Kept at CP sections
FORM 8
Kept by sender & receiver
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization

41. Disaster Exercise Organize your team according to ICS design
Messages and bystander reports will come in
Decide what needs to happen & take “action”
We will switch roles during the exercise so everyone can see variety
After action review 40

42. “Is it safe to attempt the rescue?”
Unit Summary
ICS provides flexible organization to secure current information about group safety, status, response to needs & plans
“Is it safe to attempt the rescue?”
IC/TL supervises incident at Command Post, delegating authority as needed
Communicate and Document information to all CERT levels 41

43. Unit 6: CERT Organization
Homework Assignment
Complete pgs 6-30 & 6-31 in manual (will be discussed at start next week)
Read unit to be covered in next session
Bring necessary supplies to next session
Wear appropriate clothes to next session
CERT Basic Training
Unit 6: CERT Organization 42