Title: Community Emergency Response Team
1- Community Emergency Response Team
- CERT
- Launching a CERT Program
2Launching a CERT 5 Components
- Define Program Goals
- Identify Resources
- Market the Program
- Deliver the Training
- Plan for Program Maintenance
31. Define Program Goals
- Effective Disaster Response Teams?
- Better Community Preparedness?
- Support for Other Public Safety Efforts?
- Enhanced Public Relations?
4Effective Disaster Response Teams
- Individual disaster responder skills
- Team organization
- Linkage with professional responders
5Linkage with Professional Responders
- When deployed, CERTs must be able to function on
their own - CERT operations also need to be linked with other
responders - Means and degree of linkage between CERTs and
other responders depend on nature of the event
6 Better Community Preparedness
- CERT participants maintain high level of home and
workplace preparedness - Participants are more informed about risks and
vulnerabilities - Participants are already committed to safety and
well-being of their neighbors
7 Support Other Public Safety Efforts
- Installing smoke detectors, providing safety
standby at community events, etc. - Benefits the community-at-large
- Benefits the CERTs
- Benefits the program (value-added volunteers)
82. Identify Resources
- What will we need?
- Where will we get it?
9What Do We Need to Get Started?
- Course material and training props
- Support for the concept
- Program Coordinator
- Trainers
- Program forms and flyer
- Info management tool
10Course Material and Props
- NYS CERT CD with IG, PM, PPT, etc. for printing
manuals and presentations - Internet sites (NYSEMO, FEMA, other CERT
programs) - Local emergency management offices
- American Red Cross (video, pamphlets, specialty
training) - Local utilities (info pamphlets, props)
11Support for the Concept
- Its a real resource! vs. Its a new program!
- Whenever possible, Let your citizens do the
talking - Always keep elected officials in the loop
12Program Coordinator
- Program development
- Link between CERTs and professional responders
- Expanding role and responsibilities of CERTs
- Continuing education for program participants
- Funding and budgeting
- Educating the department and jurisdiction
- Publicity and networking
13Program Coordinator
- Also responsible for program administration
- Handle public inquiries about program
- Process registrations
- Maintain records (financial, inventory, database
of CERT members, etc.) - Schedule basic training courses, follow-up
training, special events, etc. - Coordinate newsletter and other mailings
14Program Coordinator
- Also responsible for course management
- Regular contact with current students
- Recruit, train and schedule instructors
- Maintain consistent and up-to-date content
- Set up classrooms
- Provide orientation at beginning of new course
15Program Forms and Info Material
- Recruitment flyer or brochure (w/ mailer)
- Registration form
- Course confirmation letter
- Liability waiver form
- Class sign-in roster
- Certificate of Completion
- Course evaluation form
16Info Management Tool
- Collect and organize info on each program
participant as soon as you start the training - Contact information
- Team
- Classes completed / year of completion
- Continuing ed training completed
- Other, e.g., ham operator, CERT leader?
- Consider building a database to facilitate
mailings, contact lists, etc.
17First Responders as CERT Trainers
- ADVANTAGES
- 1st response experience
- Training experience
- Quality control
- Reliability
- Set schedules
- CHALLENGES
- Uncertainty about CERTs
- Training experience
- Cost
18Bottom Line on Resources
- Staffing (coordinator and trainers) will drive
the cost per student
193. Market the Program
- Reaching the Community
- Maintaining the Political Support
- Pitching to the Media
- Pitching to Your Organization
- Getting Corporate Support
20Reaching the Community
- Defining The Community
- Defining Citizen Roles
- Working with Ready-Made Partners
- Effective Community Outreach
21The Community Sees Itself
- Geographic Communities
- Ethnic Communities
- Businesses
- Schools
- Communities of Faith
- Communities of Interest
22The Community Seen by Govt.
- Taxpayers
- Voters
- Advocates
- Victims
- Customers
- Partners
23Customer Opinion about Emergencies
- Its not going to happen to me.
- Its not going to be that bad.
- Theres nothing I can do.
- Government will do it.
24The Partner
- n. A person associated with another or others
in some activity of common interest. Synonyms
partner, colleague, ally, confederate,
accomplice. These all denote one who cooperates
in a venture, occupation, or challenge.
25Examples of Ready-Made Partners
- Homeowner Associations
- Neighborhood Associations
- Church Groups
- Business District Associations
- Grange Associations
- Schools/PTAs
- Scouting Organizations
- RACES/Amateur Radio
26Basic Outreach to Citizens
- Regular meetings of established groups
- Mailers to membership lists
- Articles in community newsletters
- Community events
- Print media and TV
27Tips for Effective Outreach
- Explain the problem, then offer the solution
- Clarify processes and expectations up front
- Whenever possible, Let your citizens do the
talking - Identify special audiences that need to know CERT
training is available
28Maintaining Political Support
- Whenever possible, Let your citizens do the
talking - Demonstrate numbers of citizens visibly
- Invite direct involvement of elected officials,
agency head, their executive staff
29Pitching to the Media
- Give the media action involving citizens
disasters - Publicize photo opportunities and hands-on
aspect of training - Whenever possible, Let your citizens do the
talking - Be prepared for the results of media coverage
30Pitching to Your Organization
- Convince them of the problem, then offer the
solution - Clarify program goals and expectations up front
- Describe CERT training and protocols in agency
terms
31Getting Corporate Support
- Talk business to business
- Emphasize potential employee involvement
- Feature enhanced community preparedness
32Getting Corporate Support
- Spell out exactly what you want
- Present a complete plan
- Goals and objectives
- Respective roles of all partners
- Measurable timeline
- Evaluation process
- End result must be tangible
334. Deliver the Training
- Allow plenty of lead time Planning!!
- Pilot course is most important
34The Program Pilot
- Test the CERT curriculum
- Test delivery of training
- Collect feedback
- Assess results
- Make revisions if needed
35The Program Pilot
- Select and target test communities
- Conduct real-life version of the training
- Conduct a fearless debriefing
- Seek an outsider to assess the results
36The Program Pilot
- Debriefing and assessing the results
- What prompted the participants to enroll?
- How did they find out about the training?
- Their satisfaction with program length?
- Their satisfaction with program intensity?
37The Program Pilot
- Debriefing and assessing the results (cont.)
- Topics to be expanded, compressed, added?
- Effectiveness of instructional techniques?
- Effectiveness of instructional materials?
- Convenience of schedule and location(s)?
- Ways to sustain their interest?
385. Plan for Program Maintenance
- Comprehensive program maintenance
- Examples of maintenance successes
39Volunteer Retention
- Commitment to the community
- Commitment to ongoing training
- Commitment to building the team
- A partnership in the program
40Rescuer Skills
- Maintain a range of basic response skills
- Enhance current skills
- Learn new skills
41Program Administration
- Manage information and data
- Maintain and expand budget
- Maintain and expand corps of trainers
- Evaluate program
42External Program Support
- Professional responders
- Community-based organizations
- City Hall
- Business community
- Corporate donors
43Maintenance Successes
- Real-Life Activation of Teams
- Refresher/Advanced Classes
- Technical Assistance to Teams
- Program Newsletter
44More Maintenance Successes
- Citywide Exercises
- Neighborhood Exercise Swaps
- Acknowledgment Events
- Expanded CERT Activities
45Sample Expanded Activities
- CERT Smoke Detector Squad
- Coordination and staffing at safety fairs
- Fundraising partnerships
- Management of CERT program
- First aid stations at neighborhood events
- Disaster Preparedness Speakers Bureau
- Simulators in Fire Department exercises
46Expanded CERT Activities
- Maintain individuals skills
- Support individuals commitment
- Maintain team cohesion
- Build partnership with professionals
- Build political support
- Capitalize on initial investment
47Unit Summary
- Five critical steps to launch a CERT program
- 1. Define CERT Program Goals
- 2. Identify Resources
- 3. Market the Program
- 4. Deliver the Training
- 5. Develop a Maintenance Plan
- Allow enough lead time
- Be prepared for growth