CERT Organization

In a disaster situation, emergency on-scene management is needed to ensure the safety of disaster workers, provide clear leadership for rescuers, and improve the effectiveness of rescue efforts. The Need For CERT Organization The CERT organizational framework in use today was created to address the following needs for local emergency operations: ◦  Effective communications among agency personnel. ◦  A well-defined management structure. ◦  Accountability. The CERT structure now in use fulfills these needs, and also provides the  advantages of: Terminology that contributes to effective communication and shared understanding. Consolidated action plans that coordinate strategic goals, tactical objectives, and support activities. Comprehensive resource management that facilitates application of available resources to the right incident in a timely manner. Manageable span of control that provides for a desirable rescuer/supervisor ratio of between three and seven rescuers per supervisor.

Objectives Of The CERT Organization

In a disaster situation, the objectives of the CERT organization are to: Identify the scope of the incident. (What is the problem?) Determine an overall strategy. (What can we do, and how will we do it?) Deploy resources. (Who is going to do what?) Because the CERT organizational structure is flexible, it can change depending on the need to achieve these objectives.

CERT Structure

The following basic rules make up the foundation of the CERT organizational framework: ◦  Each CERT must establish a command structure. ◦  A CERT leader is appointed to direct the operations of the team. ◦  The location of the CERT leader is considered the Command Post for the CERT. ◦  The CERT leader may appoint members to assist with managing resources,    services, and supplies (logistics). ◦  The CERT may operate as a single team that performs all functions as required. ◦  The CERT may be divided into small teams (ERTs) of at least three people to    achieve specific goals (e.g., fire suppression, medical, search and rescue), with a    leader for each ERT. ◦  In all situations, each functioning unit must have an identified leader to supervise    tasks being performed. Note that CERT personnel should always be assigned to teams consisting of at least three persons. One person will serve as a runner and communicate with the Command Post, and two people will "buddy up" to respond to the immediate needs. A diagram of the basic CERT structure is shown in the figure below. Figure VI-1. CERT Structure

Incident Command System The Incident Command System (ICS) is the system used by fire and law enforcement personnel to manage emergency operations. CERTs are part of the Operations function of the ICS, as shown in the figure below. In a disaster situation, all CERTs report to the first fire or law enforcement official at their location and take directions from that person. Figure VI-2. How CERTs Interrelate With The ICS

CERT Decision Making

CERT Mobilization After a disaster incident has taken place, CERT organization proceeds in the following manner: 1.  First, CERT members take care of themselves, their families, and their neighbors. 2.  Then CERT members proceed to the staging area with their disaster supplies.      Along the way, they make damage assessments that would be helpful for the      CERT Team Leader’s decision making. 3.  The first CERT member at the staging area becomes the CERT Leader for the      response. As other CERT members arrive, the CERT Leader makes team      assignments, including the Logistics Team Leader who is responsible for      maintaining the flow of CERT members into the staging area and tracking      personnel and supplies. Other Team Leaders and team members are assigned      based on their capabilities and the requirements of the incident. 4.  As disaster intelligence becomes available through CERT members reporting to      staging area, emergent volunteers, and functional group reports (e.g., search and      rescue teams), the CERT Leader must prioritize actions and work with the      functional team leaders to accomplish the CERT mission. Remember that, following an incident, information and therefore, priorities will be changing rapidly. The CERT Leader must stay in close contact with the Logistics Team Leader and functional team leaders to ensure that CERTs do not overextend their resources or supplies.

Rescuer Safety Effective scene management requires the formulation and communication of strategic goals and tactical objectives that are based primarily on the safety of rescue personnel. The question to ask is always: Is it safe for the CERT members to attempt this rescue? Answers to this question relate primarily to the degree of structure damage, as shown in the table below.  Degree Of Damage  Should Rescue Be Attempted?  Heavy No, too dangerous to enter. Secure the perimeter and control access into the structure.  Moderate Perform only quick and safe removals; limit onsite medical care to checking for breathing, stopping major bleeding, and treating for shock. Minimize the number of rescuers inside the building.  Light Yes. Locate, triage, and prioritize removal of victims to the designated treatment area. Table VI-1. CERT Rescue Efforts Based On Degree Of Damage

The Los Angeles City Fire Department has developed additional strategies for rescue efforts based on degree of damage. These strategies are presented: STRATEGIES FOR DAMAGED STRUCTURES LIGHT MODERATE HEAVY Superficial Damage, Broken Windows, Fallen Plaster, Primary Damage to Contents of Building Structural Stability Questionable Due to Fracturing, Tilting, or Displacement of Building Foundation Partial or Total Collapse of Walls and/or Ceilings; Obvious Structural Instability 1. Secure building utilities     (as needed). 2. Establish and coordinate     search and rescue teams     with medical triage     personnel. 3. Establish "I" and "D"     treatment areas. 4. Primary Mission: Locate,     triage, and prioritize     removal of victims to     designated treatment     area. 5. Continue evacuation     process until all victims     have been removed and     accounted for. 6. Re-assess structural     stability and available     resources for heavy     rescue problems.     Communicate and     document location of     trapped and/or missing     persons to emergency     personnel. 1. Secure building utilities     (gas, electrical, water). 2. Gather information (victim     locations). 3. Establish control person at     exit and entry points. 4. Establish and coordinate     two- to four-person rescue     teams. 5. Primary Mission: Locate,     stabilize, and immediately     evacuate victims to a safe     area while minimizing the     number of rescuers inside     the building. 6. Perform triage and other     medical care in a safe area. 7. Continue rescuing lightly     trapped victims until     complete or no longer safe. 8. Continue size-up. 9. Communicate and     document the location of     heavily trapped or deceased     victims. 1. Communicate the location     and extent of damage to     emergency services     personnel. 2. Secure building perimeter     and control access into the     structure by untrained and     well-intentioned volunteers. 3. From the exterior of the     building, attempt to shut off     gas (if it is possible and safe     to do so). 4. Gather available information     from survivors or witnesses     for professional rescue     teams. This chart is used courtesy of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Table VI-2. Strategies For Damaged Structures

The involvement of various CERT operations for each type of damage is shown in the figure below.   Figure VI-3.  Involvement Of Functional Teams Based On Damage Level Table VI-3. Forms Used For Response Documentation

Figure VI-4. Damage Assessment Survey

Summary Post-Event Trauma Following a disaster, children and adults may experience psychological and physiological symptoms related to the trauma. Symptoms ranging from depression to sleep disorders are common as survivors begin to rebuild their lives. The intensity and duration of the symptoms depend on the individuals’ pre-event physical and mental state and on the length of time that they remain under stress. Rescue workers should be alert to symptoms of disaster trauma in themselves, and CERT leaders must realize that team members are also undergoing emotional stress. Leaders can help team members deal with their stressors by: Briefing personnel. Emphasizing teamwork throughout rescue operations. Rotating personnel to the degree possible. Encouraging breaks. Providing for proper nutrition. Phasing out workers gradually. To assist victims during this difficult period, CERT members can try several approaches, including: Establishing rapport with the victims. Listening carefully and empathizing with the victims’ concerns. Keeping all conversations confidential. CERT Organization CERTs are part of the Operations function of the ICS. The CERT organizational framework provides for: Effective communications. Well-defined management structure. Accountability. Shared terminology. Consolidated action plans. Comprehensive resource management. Manageable span of control. The objectives of the CERT are to identify the scope of the incident, determine an overall strategy, and deploy resources. The organizational structure is flexible, so it can change depending on the need to meet these objectives.   CERT Decision Making The key question that CERT leaders must always ask is: Is it safe for the CERT members to attempt this rescue? Whether or not to attempt a rescue depends on the degree of damage to the structure involved: When damage is light, CERT members should search to locate victims, complete triage, and prioritize removal of victims to the designated treatment area. When damage is moderate, CERT members should locate, stabilize, and immediately evacuate victims to a safe area while minimizing the number of rescuers inside the building. When damage is heavy, CERT members should not attempt a rescue. Their primary mission in this case is to secure the building perimeter, control access into the structure, and communicate the structure’s location and extent of damage to emergency services personnel.   Documentation It is vital to document and communicate information about situation and resource status to all CERT levels throughout the response effort. Response teams and their functional groups must provide the command post with ongoing information about damage assessment, group status, and ongoing needs. The command post must document the situation status, including: Incident locations. Support locations. Access routes. Identified hazards. There are several forms available to facilitate and standardize the documentation process. These forms include the: Damage Assessment Survey. Group Status Sheet. Message Form. Incident Status Record. In addition to these forms, emergency response personnel use site maps and building plans to gain an overall view of incident locations, support locations, access, and hazards and to update the information on a continual basis.