CERT Update: New Training and Tools to Support Program Expansion Florida CERT Association Annual Conference March 5 – 7

1. CERT Update: New Training and Tools to Support Program Expansion Florida CERT Association Annual Conference March 5 – 7, 2010

2. CERT Update • CERT Today • New Training to Support the CERT Mission • New Tools to Support the Program • Looking to the Near Future • Your Questions

3. The Community Emergency Response Team Program (CERT) is FEMA’s national training program to prepare citizens to safely assist their families, neighbors, co-workers, or anyone who needs help in the event of a widespread emergency when professional responders may not be able to reach everyone as soon as help is needed.

4. Why Community Emergency Response Teams? • Professional responders are <1% of U. S. population • Widespread emergencies/disasters can overwhelm professional responders • Good Samaritans can save lives • Good Samaritans can become casualties • Training and teamwork can increase the effectiveness and personal safety of Good Samaritans

5. Why Community Emergency Response Teams? CERT Goal: Do the most good for the most people in the least amount of time • Ensure the safety of the volunteer rescuers • Provide clear leadership for the rescuers • Improve the effectiveness of efforts to save lives and preserve property

6. We know they’ve worked in a range of widespread emergencies throughout the U.S. First responder work Evacuations Information & referral Recovery and disaster assistance services Why Community Emergency Response Teams?

7. 1994-2010: Number of local programs and individuals trained Engagement of specific groups (high schools, colleges, private sector, people with disabilities) Scope of the CERT mission at local level CERT activations and deployment at local level Credibility of the program and Teams Program Growth and Expansion

8. Current Status • Nearly 3,460 local CERT Programs in national registry • Every state and territory • 19% average annual growth over past five years • 224 Florida CERT Programs in national registry

10. Current Status • Funded through Federal HSGP and/or local jurisdiction • Typically operated by fire department • Guided by FEMA policy for CERT training, but tailored to local community and hazards • Activate CERTs for emergency and non-emergency operations

11. “CERTs” “NERTs” “HEARTs” “NETs” “C-CERT” “Campus CERTs” “BETs” “Biz CERTs” “BERTs” “SETs” “Teen CERT” “Teen SERT” Current Status

12. Evolving CERT Program Challenges Today: • Limited resources • Maintenance of Teams and CERT members • Credibility for CERTs as a community resource • Scope and quality of CERT training • Scope and quality of CERT trainer training • Access to information on good ideas and best practices

13. Training to Support the CERT Mission • Updated IS 317: Introduction to CERT • Updated CERT Basic Training Course • New CERT Train-the-Trainer Course • New CERT Supplemental Modules

14. Updated IS 317: Introduction to CERT • Helps prepare user, but does not substitute for classroom-based CERT Basic Training Course • Introduces the basic concept of CERT • Identifies principles for CERT operations • Emphasizes the importance of taking the classroom-based training • Approximately 8 hours to complete 6 modules • Enhanced interactivity

15. Eight units and final drill = 21 – 28 hours Conducted locally by fire departments, law enforcement and/or emergency management agencies Emphasis on hands-on training Updated CERT Basic Training Course

16. Updated CERT Basic Training Course Updated course content and course materials • Assure all protocols are current and sufficiently detailed (e.g., search & rescue, medical triage, ICS) • Participant Manual, Instructor guide • New and expanded PowerPoint files • Version of Participant Manual formatted for use by those with low vision

17. New CERT Training Videos • CERT in Action! (19 min.) • CERT Triage: Handling Mass Casualty Situations (22 min.) • Disaster Psychology (42 min.) • Fire Safety: The CERT Member’s Role (16 min.) • Safety in the After Disaster Environment (27 min.) • Closed-captioned versions • Spanish sub-titled versions

18. New CERT Train-the-Trainer Course Standard curriculum and course materials for states and regions conducting Train-the-Trainer Course • Assure T-T-T Course trains trainers • Emphasize primacy of hands-on approach • Help reinforce prerequisites for T-T-T participants • Instructor Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint files, video

20. CERT Supplemental Training Modules 3-4 hours each: • Animal Response I • Animal Response II • CERT Emergency Communications • CERT Tools for Leadership Success • Flood Response for CERTs • Traffic and Crowd Management for CERTs

21. CERT Supplemental Training Modules Overall Purpose • Build on basic competencies • Expand the response skills of CERT members and teams • Increase CERT’s usefulness to professional responders

22. CERT Supplemental Training Modules Overall Purpose (continued) • Provide ongoing opportunities for CERT members’ active participation • Not required; offered at discretion of local program manager to those who have completed CERT Basic Training Course

23. Design and Development Process • Supplemental training topics identified by survey of all local CERT Programs in national registry • Subject matter expert (SME) panels for each topic recommend module content • Instructor Guide, Participant Manual, PowerPoint file for each module

24. Overall Purpose Prepare CERT members for situations they may encounter in performing broader CERT response functions Generally address companion animals, service animals, “for-profit” animals, wildlife, exotics CERT Animal Response I and II

25. Overall Purpose (continued) Emphasize animal response, not rescue (CERT role differs from CART, SART, DART) Identify CERT limitations (training will not impart professional animal handler skills) CERT Animal Response I and II

26. CERT Emergency Communications • Build on team organization and operations in CERT Basic Training Course • Reinforce importance of communications in emergency response and CERT role in communications during an activation • Train on how to use a communications plan • Identify communication modes and their advantages and disadvantages in emergencies • Train on proper use of communication devices

27. Reinforce leadership concepts from CERT Basic Training Course Describe traits and responsibilities of leaders and followers Explain situational leadership and its application to CERT operations Practice the assessment and use of leadership styles in various CERT scenarios CERT Tools for Leadership Success

28. Describe Emergency Management System flood response Explain the dangers of floods and flood water and how to work safely around them Train on how to work with sandbags effectively and safely Reinforce operation concepts from CERT Basic Training Course that apply to flood response Flood Response for CERTs

29. Traffic and Crowd Management • Define traffic and crowd management and CERTs’ potential roles • Describe crowd psychology and behavior in various scenarios • Present and practice tactical fundamentals and techniques of crowd management • Describe traffic pattern considerations and special conditions • Demonstrate and practice directing traffic • Reinforce CERT safety practices when activated for crowd or traffic management • Reinforce use of ICS in crowd and traffic management

30. Tools to Support the Program • CERT National Newsletter • CERT website • CERT in Action stories • New CERT Registry • All training materials and videos for download • CERT on GovDelivery • CERT Liability Guide

31. CERT Liability Guide • Address liability exposure for CERT volunteers and organizations that train and use CERTs • Identify types of liability exposure • Explain sources for identifying types and levels of protection (e.g., State statute, local ordinance) • Focus on means to limit exposure • Organizational clarity about CERTs’ roles and responsibilities • Administrative practices • Training practices

32. Looking to the Near Future • National Level Exercise (NLE) 2011 • Major quake New Madrid Seismic Zone • Significant play by CERTs in eight States • Three additional supplemental training modules • Firefighter Rehab • CERT Exercise Swaps I • CERT Exercise Swaps II • CERT Program Manager Course

33. To prepare current and prospective CERT managers for multi-faceted job of creating and sustaining an active local CERT program CERT Program Manager Course

34. CERT Update • CERT Today • New Training to Support the CERT Mission • New Tools to Support the Program • Looking to the Near Future • Your Questions

35. More About CERT FEMA’s CERT website: http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert • New training materials • National quarterly newsletter • “CERT in Action” stories on CERT activations • Subscribe to GovDelivery to receive CERT alerts and news Contact national CERT office: cert@dhs.gov

36. Questions/Comments

37. Rachel Jacky National CERT Program Director Individual and Community Preparedness Division FEMA rachel.jacky@dhs.gov