Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) Spotlighted in Blythe Event
The City of Blythe in association with Riverside County and the LDS Church has established a disaster preparedness element to the Spring Street Festival this Saturday. Highlighting the event will be information about citizen based Community Emergency Response Teams, (CERT) and personal disaster preparedness. If this volunteer effort sounds attractive to you and if you are interested in disaster preparedness for your family or business then stop by and see all the CERT and disaster preparedness information and supplies.
Recent disasters in Southern California have highlighted the need for coordinated emergency preparedness. The community of Palo Verde recently experienced a severe wind storm which demolished numerous buildings and homes. And of course, on a larger scale, the wildfires caused the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from their homes, more than 2,000 of which were lost. Like most major disasters, first responders who provide fire and medical services typically are overwhelmed and are not able to fully meet the demand for these services. Factors such as the number of victims, communication failures, and road blockages can prevent people from accessing emergency services they have come to expect at a moment's notice through 911. People will have to rely on each other for help in order to meet their immediate life saving and life sustaining needs.
CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and rescue victims safely; and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.
The Community Emergency Response Team concept was developed and implemented by the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD) in 1985. The Whittier Narrows earthquake in 1987 underscored the area-wide threat of a major disaster in California. Further, it confirmed the need for training civilians to meet their immediate needs. As a result, the LAFD created the Disaster Preparedness Division with the purpose of training citizens, private and government employees.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes the importance of preparing citizens. The Emergency Management Institute (EMI) and the National Fire Academy adopted and expanded the CERT materials believing them applicable to all hazards. The four elements of CERT are: it presents citizens the facts about what to expect following a major disaster in terms of immediate services. Second, CERT delivers the message about their responsibility for mitigation and preparedness. Third, the program trains people in needed life saving skills. Finally, CERT organizes teams so that they are an extension of first responder services offering immediate help to victims until professional services arrive.
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. These groups can provide immediate assistance to victims in their area, organize spontaneous volunteers who have not had the training, and collect disaster intelligence that will assist professional responders with prioritization and allocation of resources following a disaster. Since 1993 when this training was made available nationally by FEMA, communities in 28 States and Puerto Rico have conducted CERT training.
Trainers will offer periodic refresher sessions to reinforce the basic training. CERT teams can sponsor events such as drills, picnics, neighborhood clean up, and disaster education fairs which will keep them involved and trained. CERT members will receive recognition for completing their training, and CERT volunteers will be issued ID cards, vests, and helmets.
If you have any questions about this program please call Assistant City Manager Charles �Butch� Hull at 921-2740.
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