1. Office of Emergency Management Town of Bethel

2. Agenda  Welcome  Tom Galliford, Director of Emergency Management  What is CERT?  The Need for CERT  Bethel CERT Mission & Role  CERT Training Course  Question & Answers

3. What is CERT? Sponsors Federal Office of Emergency ManagementLocal State

4. The National Framework  National Response Plan presents the guiding principles enabling all levels of domestic response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to disasters and emergencies.  ESF annexes (Emergency Support Functions) ESF 5- emergency management ESF 8- public health and medical services ESF 2- Communications

5. The National Response Plan  Incident Command System (ICS) is a standardized, on-scene, all-hazard incident management concept developed by the military.  CERT is part of Bethel Emergency Management  Activated by EMD, report to EMD, responsible to EMD.  May assist other agencies/ESF’s only after authorized and deployed by EMD.

6. The Need For CERT  Any large scale emergency requires extensive manpower, personnel.  Having a pool of trained volunteers to assist our first responders is vitally important.  Individual’s skills, hobbies may become critical in an emergency. (food service business=shelter food management)

7. The Need For CERT  Assist at the EOC: Shelter managers Documentation/Scribe Radio operator (ARES) Maintain Mass Notification System

8. The Need For CERT  Assist at the Emergency Scene: Provide traffic control Triage patients Provide First Aid Provide Rehabilitation for First Responders Assist in running Shelters State Animal Rescue Teams Amateur Radio

9. CERT beginnings  Concept developed by Los Angeles City Fire Dept in 1985.  The CERT course will benefit any citizen who takes it. This individual will be better prepared to respond to and cope with the aftermath of a disaster. Additionally, if a community wants to supplement its response capability after a disaster, civilians can be recruited and trained as neighborhood, business, and government teams that, in essence, will be auxiliary responders.  Sponsored By DEMHS  Congress has provided funds through the Citizen Corps program.

10. CERT and Public Health Emergencies  A “Community Emergency Response Volunteer” group has been established by the Bethel, Redding, & Ridgefield Health Departments.  This CERV is primarily made up of Health Care Professionals.  Citizen volunteers are used as non-medical support in major health emergencies.  CERT members could supplement and compliment CERV group activities in public health emergencies (pan flu, small pox, etc)

11. CERT and SART  State Animal Response Team- Bob Yost  Established to assist in pet rescuing and sheltering during emergencies.  Could be utilized for fires, floods, evacuations, etc.  Pets are a vital component to one’s well being- a system is needed to care for and house pets.  Need to be trained in CERT to become part of SART!

12. TRAINING  CERT training program: 1. Disaster Preparedness 2. Fire Safety 3. Disaster Medical Operations (2 sessions) 4. Light Search and Rescue 5. Disaster Psychology 6. Terrorism 7. Disaster Simulation

13. TRAINING  Additional classes to be offered for advanced training after completion of initial program:  Fire Police  Red Cross Shelter Management  CPR  FF Rehab

14. VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE!  Fill out application  We will contact you with dates for classes  If you cannot attend a class or two, there is potential for make up classes in other towns. QUESTIONS???