1. A CERT in Every County! Samantha Royster Ann Keyes, Director
NC CERT Program Manager Washington County CERT
NC Emergency Management Emergency Management

2. What is CERT?
Community Emergency Response Teams started by Los Angeles Fire Department in 1985 when they realized they could easily be overwhelmed in a large-scale emergency/ disaster.
Recognized need for citizens to be trained in how to help themselves.
Adopted by FEMA and expanded to national program.
Currently more than 2,200 teams in 50 states, 3 territories and 6 foreign countries.

3. What is CERT?
Following a major disaster, first responders will not be able to meet the demand of survivors immediately.
People will have to rely on each other to meet immediate life-saving and life-sustaining needs.
Apex CERT, Wake County

4. CERT is:
A network of neighborhood and workplace teams who are trained by emergency service professionals who call on them during local disaster situations. CERT members are also a volunteer resource for non-emergency preparedness projects.
Bladen County CERT
Apex CERT, Wake County
Washington County CERT

5. CERT is:
Community members partnering together to provide positive reinforcement of emergency planning and safety
roles.

6. CERT is not:
Training citizens to act as firefighters, police officers or paramedics, but as assistants to those professionals.
Carolina Trace CERT, Lee County

7. CERTs do:
Conduct initial size-up of their homes/workplaces following a disaster
Reduce immediate danger by turning off utilities, suppressing small fires, evacuating affected areas
Triage and treat life-threatening injuries
Collect damage information for authorities
Establish and maintain communication with emergency personnel
Report hazardous situations to appropriate authorities
Continuously gain more knowledge through further training
Step up for their neighborhood/campus/ community when needed
Educate the public about disaster preparedness
Install smoke detectors
Volunteer for Emergency Management
Give talks to the community about preparedness

8. CERTs do NOT: Enter structures that are unsafe
Attempt to fight fires that are too large to control with an extinguisher
Perform medical treatments beyond their scope of training
Take the place of 911
Perform hazardous materials clean-up
Perform beyond their level of training
Activate or deploy unless called for according to their procedures
Cary CERT, Wake County

9. CERT Basic Training
21 hours of classroom and hands-on training culminating in a full-scale exercise.
Cary CERT, Wake County

10. Unit 1 – Disaster Preparedness
Identify roles and responsibilities for individuals, community leaders, government officials
Describe types of hazards that affect community, people, health, infrastructure
Undertake personal and organizational preparedness actions

11. Unit 2 – Fire Safety & Utility Controls
The role of CERT in fire safety
Identify and reduce potential fire and utility risks
Describe CERT sizeup
Explain basic safety precautions
Identify hazardous materials
Extinguish small fires
Shut off utilities
Washington County CERT

12. Unit 3 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part I
Identify the “three killers”
Apply techniques for opening airways, controlling bleeding, treating for shock
Conduct triage under simulated disaster conditions
Carolina Trace CERT, Lee County

13. Unit 4 – Disaster Medical Operations, Part II
Take appropriate sanitation measures to help protect public health
Perform head-to-toe assessments
Establish a treatment area
Apply splints/bandages
Edenton CERT, Chowan County

14. Pasquotank-Camden CERTs

15. Unit 5 – Light Search-and-Rescue Operations
Identify sizeup requirements for potential search-and-rescue operations
Describe the most common techniques for searching, both interior and exterior
Use of safe techniques for debris removal and victim extrication
Describe ways to protect rescuers during operations
Edenton CERT, Chowan County

17. Unit 6 – CERT Organization
Describe the CERT structure
Identify how CERTs interrelate with the Incident Command System
Explain documentation requirements
Fairfield Harbour CERT, Craven County

18. Unit 7 – Disaster Psychology
Describe the disaster and post-disaster emotional environment for victims and rescuers
Describe the steps that rescuers can take to relieve their own stress and that of disaster survivors
Fairfield Harbour CERT, Craven County

19. Unit 8 – Terrorism and CERT
Define terrorism
Identify potential targets in the community
Identify the eight signs of terrorism
Identify CERT operating procedures for a terrorist incident
Describe the actions to take following a suspected terrorist incident
Washington County CERT

20. Graduation Day

21. Why we need CERT
If just half of the NC population of 9.7 million people had CERT training, think of how it would help the fraction of the population who are professional responders!

22. Washington County CERT members
- participate in BIG SWEEP/LITTER SWEEP and Safety Awareness programs
- participate in drills and exercises, i.e.
EBOLA training, Active shooter, Hazardous Materials,
Web EOC training, hurricane/tornado/severe weather
- participate in National Night Out to provide safety materials
- participate in Firefighter’s competition day
- train in Incident Command (ICS 100, 200, 700, 800, 300, 400)
- volunteer in EOC during actual events
- serve alongside coordinators at PODS, CRDP, and assist Red Cross
- have monthly training meetings

23. Litter Sweep

24. Ebola Awareness Litter Sweep Dust Devil Exercise
Emergency Preparedness Day

25. Roper Peanut Festival

28. Questions about starting a CERT?
Contact NC CERT Program Manager Samantha Royster