“Virginia Citizen Corps” Expand Opportunities for Staff and Volunteers Special Presentation For Volunteer Coordinators Show and Tell

First, let’s take a quick look at the history of Citizen Corps programs…

The date we will always remember 2001

President Bush, State of the Union Address: “We all have a role in homeland security. Citizen Corps ask you to embrace the personal responsibility to be prepared; to get training in first aid and emergency skills; and to volunteer to support local emergency responders for disaster relief and community safety.” USA Freedom Corps Citizen Corps Programs were born

5 Citizen Corps Programs

Community Emergency Response Team From its roots to a national protocol…

February Los Angeles Fire Department sent a team to Japan… Gets its start. February Los Angeles Fire Department sent a team to Japan…

To study its extensive earthquake preparedness plans

The team experienced a very interesting concept… The team experienced a very interesting concept…

Entire neighborhoods were trained in “one aspect” of alleviating the potential devastation that would follow a major earthquake.

Light Search and Rescue Doing the most good until responders arrive

Triage and First Aid Students receive basic first aid and triage to assist until responders arrive

Basic Fire Suppression Putting out a fire no larger than a trash can Safety “first” for volunteers

The team returned to Los Angeles with an idea

Fast Forward 1985 An investigative team was sent to Mexico City where they studied the aftermath of a 8.1 earthquake

30,000 were injured 10,000 died Hundreds of untrained and unaffiliated volunteers helped in the 15 day rescue effort 100 volunteers died Incredible devastation

Tested it on 30 Neighborhood Watch volunteers Light Search and Rescue First Aid/Triage Basic Fire Suppression 1986, LA Fire developed the Community Emergency Rescue Team program - CERT

Expedited the need to train civilians to develop, train and maintain a network of Community Emergency Response Teams to meet local needs across the USA FEMA made the concept and program available nationwide and expanded CERT training materials to make them applicable to include “all hazards” Whittier Narrows 5.9 Earthquake Whittier Narrows 5.9 Earthquake in San Gabriel, CA. in San Gabriel, CA.

Core Curriculum Fire Safety- Fire Chemistry/Hazardous Materials Disaster Medical Operations 1 & 2- First Aid/Triage Emergency Preparedness- How to prepare at home and work Light Search and Rescue- Size Up/Conducting Search Operations

Core Curriculum Disaster Psychology- Team Psychology/Working w/ survivors Terrorism and CERT- What is Terrorism, Targets, Weapons Organization- Decision making/Tabletop Exercise Disaster Simulation- EXERCISE/Practical

CERTs do not self deploy except… In their neighborhoods, at work… where disasters happen. CERT volunteers are more prepared at home and work because of their training.

If they are not needed by your organization when disaster strikes, they can help their community…

What Can CERTs Do? Initial site inspections after a disaster Light debris removal Food and water distribution Evacuation Special needs  Human shelter management  Volunteer Center  Volunteer Reception Center- Public Affairs Professionals  Animal shelter management

CERT to the Rescue Public education about preparedness *even within your organization Parades Transportation needs Case management for survivors Snow removal Senior needs Dissemination of preparedness information Help with access and functional needs citizens

Volunteer Support in Disasters…how to integrate Volunteers must affiliate with a local organization connected to Emergency Management to be trained to participate. Otherwise they will be “spontaneous volunteers”. Spontaneous volunteers can become the problem, not the solution.

Building Blocks Start with CERT Training Staff and/or volunteers take CERT from a locality near you and establish your “CERT Team”. In the event of a local need, the CERT Coordinator contacts you to call out your CERT Team Their involvement in hours is counted by both your organization and the CERT affiliate

A Win-Win Situation To take CERT training to experience the experience yourself from your local CERT organization and learn the possibilities first hand.

You Can Be Our Ambassadors To promote our programs and help in disasters and in between if not needed by your organization

Pictures are worth a thousand words…

Page County, Office Max, VDOT and Pittsylvania County Teen CERTs in Action

Medical Reserve Corps, Fire Corps and Neighborhood Watch volunteers

Noteworthy Quotations “For too long we've treated the public as a liability to be protected rather than an asset in our nation's collective security.“ Secretary Janet Napolitano Department of Homeland Security

Virginia Citizen Corps, Partnerships in action QUESTIONS? Linda Rubin Citizen Corps Program Manager Virginia Department of Emergency Management